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THE 


ORLANDO  INNAMORATO, 


LONDON :      • 

Printed  by  A.  &  R.  SpoVfiswoode, 
New-Street-Square. 


THE 

ORLANDO    INNAMORATO 

TRANSLATED    INTO    PROSE 

FROM    THE    ITALIAN    OF 

FRANCESCO  BERNI 

AND 

INTERSPERSED    WITH    EXTRACTS 

IV    THE    SAME    STANZA    AS    THE    ORIGINAL 
BY 

WILLIAM  STEWART  ROSE 


W.  BLACKWOOD    EDINBURGH 

AND  T.  CADELL  LONDON 

MDCCCXXIII 


TO 

HENRY  RICHARD,  LORD  HOLLAND, 


Who,  at  a   late  period  of  my  labours  upon  the  "  Furioso,  ' 
suggested  the  present  work  as  its  necessary  prologue. 

KIND  peer,  who,  mid  the  tempest  of  debate, 
Hast  gladly  wooed  and  won  the  Southern  muse, 

Where,  crowned  with  fruit  and  flower  of  mingling  hues, 
She  in  a  grove  of  myrtle  keeps  her  state, 

This  I  had  entered  by  a  postern  gate, 

Like  stranger,  who  no  certain  path  pursues, 

Or  garden's  lord,  that  hath  his  own  to  choose, 
Hadst  thou  not  shewn  a  better  entrance  late  : 

That  portal  led  me  to  Morgana's  *  towers, 

Where  fierce  Orlando  found  the  dame  at  play; 

And  though,  too  fast  for  me,  from  fields  of  flowers, 
She  flies  to  savage  waste,  and  will  not  stay, 

It  will  content  me  but  to  paint  her  bowers, 
If  this  be  granted  by  the  scornful  fay. 

William  Stetvart  Rose. 

*  See  the  adventure  of  Morgana,  the  type  of  Fortune,  who, 
flying  from  her  garden  into  a  wilderness,  is  taken  by  Orlando, 
Book  II. 

A    3 


I  1 


INTRODUCTION. 


IT  is  many  years  since  I  first  entertained  a 
vague  idea  of  translating  the  Orlando  Furioso, 
and  circumstances  of  little  importance  to  the 
reader,  led  me  more  recently  to  undertake  it 
in  earnest.  This  work  was  again  laid  down ; 
and  afterwards  resumed  at  the  instance  of  a 
distinguished  friend;  and  by  an  odd  coinci- 
dence, I  am  indebted  also  to  the  suggestion  of 
another  eminent  person  for  the  idea  of  the 
present  translation  of  the  Orlando  Innamorato, 
which,  I  should  observe,  is  intended  to  be 
auxiliary  to  that,  my  first  and  greater  under- 
taking, though  I  need  scarcely  say,  that  the  story 


V111  INTRODUCTION. 

of  Boiardo  is  a  necessary  prologue  to  the  poem 
of  Ariosto. 

It  was  my  intention  to  have  translated  the 
first  mentioned  work,  exactly  upon  the  model 
adopted  by  Tressan  in  his  version  of  the  French 
romances,  a  scheme  afterwards  executed  with 
so  much  better  success,  by  my  late  excellent 
friend,  Mr.  George  Ellis,  in  his  English  work 
of  the  same  description.  A  further  consider- 
ation of  the  subject,  however,  induced  me  to 
imitate  them  only  in  their  general  plan  of  illus- 
trating a  compendious  prose  translation  by 
extracts,  without  seeking  to  add  poignancy  to 
this,  by  what  might  give  a  false  idea  of  the  tone 
of  my  original.  I  recollected  that  I  stood  in  a 
very  different  predicament  from  that  of  either 
of  these  authors;  that,  to  compare  my  work 
with  ihe  one,  which  is  most  likely  to  be  familiar 
to  m\  readers,  the  '  Specimens  of  early  English 
Romances,'  the  originals  are  composed  in  a 
spirit  of  gravity  which  can  hardly  be  confused 


INTRODUCTION.  IX 

with  the  gay  style  of  the  translator,  and  there- 
fore nobody  can  be  misled  by  the  vein  of  plea- 
santry which  runs  through  Mr.  Ellis's  work, 
and  which  is  sure  to  be  exclusively  ascribed  to 
the  author  of  the  Rifacimento.  This,  how- 
ever, would  possibly  not  be  the  case  with  me,  as 
the  Innamorato  is  in  a  great  measure  a  humour- 
ous work,  of  which  I  might  give  a  false  im- 
pression, by  infusing  into  it  a  different  species 
of  wit,  from  that  which  distinguishes  it; — a 
consideration  which  induced  me  to  adopt  the 
scheme  I  have  pursued  in  the  following  sheets. 
This  project  is  to  give  a  mere  ground-plan 
of  the  Gothic  edifice  of  Boiardo,  upon  a  small 
scale,  accompanied  with  some  elevations  and 
sections  of  the  chambers  ;  which  I  have  sought 
to  colour  after  jny  original :  or,  (to  speak  more 
plainly,)  the  reader  is  to  look  for  the  mere 
story  in  my  prose  abridgement,  while  he  may 
form  some  notion  of  its  tone  and  style,  from 
the  stanzas  with  which  it  is  interspersed. 


X  INTRODUCTION. 

The  story  indeed,  which  seems  most  likely 
to  interest  the  English  reader,  is  that  which 
took  a  strong  possession  of  the  imagination  of 
Milton,  who  refers  with  more  apparent  en- 
thusiasm to  the  Innamorato,  than  to  the  Furioso, 
and  whose  apparent  preference  is  justifiable, 
if  a  richer  stream  of  invention,  and  more  con- 
summate art  in  its  distribution,  are  legitimate 
titles  to  admiration. 

In  this  latter  qualification  more  especially, 
Boiardo,  however  inferior  as  a  poet,  must  be 
considered  as  a  superior  artist  to  Ariosto ;  and 
weaving  as  complicated  a  web  as  his  successor, 
it  is  curious  to  observe  how  much  he  excels  him 
as  a  story-teller.  The  tales,  indeed,  of  Ariosto, 
(and  the  want  of  connexion  among  these  is,  in 
my  eyes,  his  most  essential  defect)  are  so  many 
loose  episodes,  which  may  be  compared  to 
parallel  streams,  flowing  towards  one  reser- 
voir, but  through  separate  and  independent 
channels.  Those  of  Boiardo,  on  the  contrary, 


INTRODUCTION.  XI 

are  like  waters,  that,  however  they  may 
diverge,  preserve  their  relation  to  the  parent 
river,  to  which  their  accession  always  seems 
necessary,  and  with  which  they  reunite,  pre- 
vious to  its  discharging  its  contents  into  their 
common  resting-place.  A  short  example  may 
serve  to  illustrate  what  I  have  laid  down.  A 
damsel  in  the  Innamorato  relates  to  Rinaldo  the 
adventures  of  two  worthies  named  Iroldo  and 
Prasildo,  a  narration  which  is  interrupted,  and 
which,  though  good  in  itself,  at  first  appears  to 
be  an  insulated  episode.  Rinaldo,  however,  after- 
wards falls  in  with  Iroldo  and  his  friend;  and  this 
history,  thus  resumed,  unites  itself  naturally  with 
that  of  the  paladin.  It  is  thus  that  all  the 
stories  are  dove-tailed  one  into  the  other,  and 
form  a  mosaic,  as  striking  from  the  nice 
union  of  its  parts,  as  from  the  brilliancy  of  its 
colours. 

Boiardo's  art,  though  here  indeed  he  cannot 
be  said  to  excel  Ariosto,  is  as  conspicuous  also 


Xll  INTRODUCTION. 

in  the  direction  of  the  strange  under-current  of 
allegory  which  pervades  his  poem,  as  it  is  in 
the  distribution  of  his  stream  of  story ;  while 
the  sort  of  esoteric  doctrines  conveyed  by  it, 
gives  a  mysterious  interest  even  to  what  we 
imperfectly  comprehend. 

Such  indeed  is  the  case  with  many  of  the 
fables  of  the  Odyssey,  and  even  of  the  Iliad ; 
where  the  allegory,  moreover,  is  always  sub  • 
servient  to  poetry,  and  poetry  is  never  made 
subservient  to  allegory.  This  remarkable 
piece  of  judgment  in  the  Greek  poet  has,  I 
think,  been  well  imitated  both  by  Boiardo  and 
Ariosto,  and  it  is  the  neglect  of  this  principle 
which  has  made  allegory  so  often  offensive  in 
the  Faery  Queene  of  Spenser.  The  obtrusive 
nature  of  this  has  been  well  compared  by  Mr. 
George  Ellis,  in  his  Specimens  of  the  early  Eng- 
lish poets,  to  a  ghost  in  day-light.  It  is,  more- 
over, destructive  to  all  character;  for  Spenser's 
heroes  being  mere  abstract  personifications  of 


INTRODUCTION.  Kill 

some  virtue  or  vice,  we  almost  always  know 
what  they  are  to  do,  though  their  actions  are 
often  unnatural,  if  considered  as  the  actions 
of  human  beings.  Hence  it  is  that  we  are 
never  entertained  with  pictures  of  manners  in 
the  Faery  Queen,  while  these  form  one  of  the 
great  charms  of  the  poems  with  which  I  am 
contrasting  it. 

It  may  however  be  said  with  justice,  that  we  are 
to  ascribe  this  more  picturesque  effect  of  allegory, 
rather  to  the  spirit  of  the  age  than  to  that  of  the 
fabulist.  For  it  is  perhaps  true  that  all  early 
fable  is  purely  allegorical ;  that  this  is  by 
degrees  mixed  up  with  other  circumstances, 
and  it  is  in  this  mixed  character  that  it  is  most 
conducive  to  poetical  effect.  But  in  a  later  age 
and  later  process  of  refinement,  when  there  is 
a  greater  tendency  to  abstract,  allegory  is  stript 
of  her  adventitious  ornaments,  and  is  at  last 
forced  upon  us  in  poetry,  painting,  and  sculp- 
ture, unveiled,  or  unencompassed  by  that  sort 


XIV  INTRODUCTION. 

of  pleasing  halo  which  is  necessary  to  give  her 
effect. 

But  whether  we  are  to  ascribe  Boiardo's 
success  in  this  particular  to  the  character  of  his 
age,  or  to  his  own  superior  judgment,  there  is,  I 
think,  no  doubt  about  the  fact,  and  there  is,  I 
think,  as  little  difficulty  in  conceding  to  my 
author,  upon  other  grounds,  the  praise  of  skill 
in  executing  the  singular  work  of  which  he  was 
the  architect. 

This  extraordinary  man  was  Matteo  Maria 
Boiardo,  count  of  Scandiano,  and  a  native 
of  Reggio  in  the  Modenese,  who  flourished 
in  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century. 
These  are  circumstances  the  more  worthy 
of  mention,  as  some  of  them  tend  to  explain 
what  may  seem  most  strange  in  the  com- 
position of  the  Innamorato  ;  such  as  the  pro- 
vincial character  of  the  diction,  and  more 
especially  that  careless  and  almost  contemp- 
tuous tone  between  jest  and  earnest,  which  dis- 


INTRODUCTION.  XV 

tinguishes  his  poem.  It  is  doubtless  on  this 
account  that  Ugo  Foscolo  observes,  in  an  in- 
genious critique  on  the  Italian  romantic  poets, 
in  the  Quarterly  Review  *,  that  he  tells  his  story 
in  the  tone  of  a  feudal  baron  ;  thus  applying  to 
him  more  justly  what  M.  de  Balzac  has  ob- 
jected to  another ;  of  whom  he  says,  "  qu'il 
s'est  comporte  dans  son  poe'rne  comme  un 
prince  dans  ses  etats.  C'est  en  vertu  de  cette 
souverainte  qu'il  ne  reconnoit  point  les  lois, 
et  qu'il  se  met  au  dessus  du  droit  commun." 

After  speaking  of  the  mode  in  which  he  ar- 
ranged his  work,  it  is  a  natural  transition  to 
the  substance  with  which  Boiardo  built.  This 
shews  strong  internal  evidence  f  of  having  been 

*  In  an  article  purporting  to  be  a  review  of  Whistlecrqft's 
poem,  (now  entitled  The  Monks  and  Giants,')  and  The  Court  and 
Parliament  of  Beasts. 

•f-  A  single  circumstance,  which  I  cite,  because  it  can  be 
appreciated  by  every  body,  would  convince  me  that  such  stories 
as  are  to  be  found  in  the  Innamorato,  were  not  the  growth  of 
Boiardo's  century.  No  author  of  that  age  could  have  imagined 
the  friendly  ties  of  alliance  and  consanguinity  between  Chris- 
tians and  paynims,  though  such  fictions  are  justified  by  facts: 


XVI  INTRODUCTION. 

taken,  in  the  main,  from  the  old  French  ro- 
mances of  Charlemagne,  or  rather  from  Italian 
works,  raised  upon  their  foundation.  Hoole 
mentions  one  of  these,  called  Aspramonte,  &c., 
of  uncertain  date,  and  we  have  the  titles  of  two 
others,  which  were  anterior  to  the  Innam&rato, 
one  called  Li  fat  ft  di  Carlo  Magno  c  del  Pala- 
dini  di  Francia,  printed  in  1481;  the  other 
printed  in  1491,  and  entitled  La  Historia  real 
di  Francici)  die  tratta  deifatti  dei  Paladini  e  di 
Carlo  Magno  in  sei  libri.  Some  indeed  would 
seem  to  deny  that  Boiardo  had  dug  in  these 
mines,  and  would  wish  us  to  believe,  that  he 
not  only  compounded  but  manufactured  the 


thus  we  learn  from  Gibbon  that  like  relations  existed  between 
Greeks  and  Turks,  and  (as  we  are  informed  by  Mr.  Lockhart, 
in  the  preface  to  his  Spanish  Ballads,  a  work  which  presents  as 
striking  pictures  of  manners  as  of  passion)  between  Spaniards 
and  Moors.  Nor  need  such  things  surprise  us,  though  the 
barriers  which  now  separate  Christian  and  Mahomedan, 
render  them  impossible.  Nations  are  like  individuals,  and 
when  they  are  brought  into  close  and  constant  intercourse,  of 
whatever  kind,  their  passions,  good  or  bad,  must  be  kindled 
by  the  contact. 


INTRODUCTION.  Xvii 

materials  with  which  he  wrought.  Such  at  least 
would  appear  to  have  been  the  drift  of  one, 
who  observes  that  Agramant,  Sacripant  and 
Gradassso  were  names  of  certain  of  the  vassals 
of  Scandiano.  But  if  he  means  to  insinuate 
by  this,  that  Boiardo  was  not  also  indebted  to 
the  other  source  for  his  fictions  and  characters, 
as  well  might  a  critic  of  to-day,  contend  that 
the  author  of  the  Monks  and  Giants.,  who  writes 
under  the  name  of  Whistlecraft,  had  not  bor- 
rowed the  idea  of  their  cause  of  quarrel  from 
Pulci,  because  he  has  given  ridiculous  modern 
names  to  some  of  his  giants;  or  that  he  had 
not  taken  the  leaders  amongst  his  dramatis 
persona  from  the  romances  of  the  Round  Table, 
because  he  has  conferred  "  two  leopards'  faces," 
that  is,  his  own  arms,  on  the  single  knight, 
who  perishes  in  Sir  Tristram's  successful  expe- 
dition. 

But    if   Boiardo    has    apparently   taken    his 
principal  fictions  from  the  romances  of  Charle- 


XV111  INTRODUCTION. 

magne,  he  has  also  resorted  to  other  known 
quarries,  and  ransacked  classical  as  well  as 
romantic  fable  for  materials. 

This  edifice,  so  constructed,  which  Boiardo 
did  not  live  to  finish,  soon  underwent  alteration 
and  repairs.  The  first  were  made  by  Niccolo 
degli  Agostini,  and  later  in  the  same  century 
a  second  and  more  celebrated  rifacimento  of 
it,  from  which  this  translation  is  composed,  was 
produced  by  Francesco  Berni;  whose  name 
has  given  a  distinctive  epithet  to  the  style  of 
poetry,  in  which  he  excelled,  and  of  which  he  is 
vulgarly  supposed  to  have  been  the  inventor. 

This  man  was  born  of  poor  but  noble  parents, 
in  a  small  town  of  Tuscany.  He  entered  the 
church,  to  which  he  had  evidently  no  dispo- 
sition, as  a  means  of  livelihood,  and,  though  as 
unqualified  for  servitude  as  for  the  discharge  of 
his  clerical  duties,  spent  the  better  part  of  his 
life  in  dependence.  He  appears,  however,  to 
have  been  blessed  with  a  vein  of  cheerfulness, 


INTRODUCTION.  MIX 

which,  seconded  by  a  lively  imagination,  ena- 
bled him  to  beguile  the  wearisome  nature  of 
occupations,  which  were  uncongenial  to  him; 
and  of  this  he  has  left  many  monuments  in 
sonnets  and  pieces  in  terza  rima,  (styled  in 
Italian  capitoli,}  consisting  of  satires  and  various 
species  of  ludicrous  composition.  The  titles  of 
many  of  these  sufficiently  attest  their  whim- 
sicality, such  as  his  Capitoli  sugli  Orinali,  sidle 
Anguille,  his  Eulogy  of  the  Plague,  &c.  &c. 
But  the  mode  in  which  he  has  handled  this 
last  subject,  will  give  the  best  insight  into  the 
character  of  his  humour.  Having  premised 
that  different  persons  gave  a  preference  to 
different  seasons- — as  the  poet  to  the  spring, 
and  the  reveller  to  the  autumn,  —  he  observes, 
that  one  may  well  like  the  season  of  flowers,  or 
the  other  that  of  fruits ;  but  that,  for  his  part, 
he  preferred  the  time  of  plague.  He  then 
backs  his  predilection  by  a  rehearsal  of  the 
advantages  attending  this  visitation;  observing 
a  2 


XX  INTRODUCTION. 

that  a  man  is  in  such  times  free  from  solicitations 
of  borrowers  or  creditors,  and  safe  from  dis- 
agreeable companions  ;  that  he  has  elbow-room 
at  church  and  market,  and  can  then  only  be 
said  to  be  in  the  full  possession  of  his  natural 
liberty.  He  has  rung  all  sorts  of  changes  on 
this  theme,  and  nothing  can  be  more  humor- 
ous than  his  details. 

These  are  worked  up  with  singular  powers 
of  diction,  set  off  by  great  apparent  facility  of 
style,  and  are  no  less  remarkable  for  music  of 
rythm,  richness  of  rhyme,  and  a  happy  boldness 
of  expression.  In  this  respect  there  is  some  ana- 
logy, though  no  likeness,  between  Berni  and 
Dryden;  and  the  real  merits  of  both  are  there- 
fore imperfectly  estimated  by  foreigners,  and 
even  by  the  generality  of  their  own  country- 
men. Many  Italians,  indeed,  consider  Berni 
as  a  mere  buffoon,  which  the  English  reader 
will  think  less  extraordinary,  when  he  hears 


INTRODUCTION.  XXI 

(as  Lord  Glenbervie  *  observes,  I  think,  in  his 
notes  to  Ricciardetto,)  that  such  an  opinion 
has  been  entertained  in  Italy,  even  with  regard 
to  Ariosto. 

Better  reasons  may  seem  to  palliate  such  a 
mistake  of  the  real  poetical  character  of  Berni, 
than  of  that  of  Ariosto.  Some  of  these  are  of 
a  general  description,  and  others  of  a  nature 
more  peculiarly  applicable  to  his  case.  We 
may  observe,  as  to  the  first,  that  whoever  in- 
dulges his  wit,  in  whatever  species  of  compo- 
sition, is  usually  misjudged;  for  wit,  in  the 
sight  of  the  world,  overlays  all  the  other  qua- 
lities of  an  author,  in  whatever  act  or  pursuit 
he  may  be  engaged.  Thus  a  great  English 
painter,  single  in  his  walk,  and  distinguished  by 
his  various  powers,  is  looked  upon  by  the  mul- 

*  I  state  this  on  Lord  Glenbervie's  sole  authority,  which  is, 
however,  a  weighty  one.  Such  an  opinion  was  probably 
current  when  he  first  knew  Italy ;  but  I  should  imagine  it 
could  hardly  be  entertained  at  present. 

a  3 


XX11  INTRODUCTION. 

titude  as  a  mere  caricaturist,  even  where  carica- 
ture is  intended  by  him  only  as  a  foil  to  beauty  ; 
and  orators  have  for  the  same  reason  sunk  into 
jesters  in  the  opinion  of  the  mob,  though  they 
may  have  been  equally  distinguished  for  argu- 
mentative discussion  or  pathetic  effect. 

But  other  and  more  particular  circumstances 
have  tended  to  fix  this  character  upon  Berni. 
Few  men  have  a  delicate  perception  of  familiar 
expression,  and  still  fewer  yet  have  a  nice  feeling 
of  the  delicacies  of  prosody, 

Untwisting  all  the  links  that  tie 
The  secret  chain  of  harmony. 

Now  it  is  for  the  bold,  however  dexterous, 
use  of  language,  and  rythm,  that  Berni  is 
principally  distinguished ;  and  hence,  as  the 
means  through  which  he  works  are  imperfectly 
understood  by  the  majority  of  his  readers,  his 
object  has  been  frequently  mistaken.  I  should 


INTRODUCTION.  XX111 

cite,  in  illustration  of  this,  his  description  of  a 
storm  at  sea,  which  has  been  often  deemed 
burlesque,  but  in  which  the  poet  would  be 
more  justly  considered  as  working  a  fine  effect 
by  unwonted  means. 

Let  us  try  this  question  by  the  rules  of  ana- 
logy. Men  in  all  countries  resemble  one 
another  in  the  main,  and  where  they  are  not 
guided  by  a  natural  taste  and  judgment,  lean 
upon  some  rule,  which  is  to  direct  them  as  an 
infallible  guide.  Depending  upon  this,  they 
seldom  consider  that  it  may  be  narrow,  or  of 
insufficient  support.  Thus  an  Englishman  who 
has  learned  to  think  about  verse,  by  the  help 
of  a  few  simple  precepts  *,  which  he  believes 


*  For  example,  there  is  no  rule  deemed  more  absolute,  and 
yet  there  is  none  which  admits  more  exceptions  than  the 
maxim  forbidding  a  line  of  ten  monosyllables.  For  mono- 
syllables, in  French  and  English,  are  often  such  only  to  the 
eye,  such  words  being  frequently,  in  both  languages,  melted 
into  each  other.  Hence  many  good  English  verses  consist  of 

a   J- 


XXIV  INTRODUCTION. 

to  be  absolute,  is  taught  to  look  upon  the 
double  rhyme  as  suited  only  to  burlesque 
poetry.  Yet  Drummond's 

"  Methought  desponding  nightingales  did  borrow, 
Plaint  of  my  plaint,  and  sorrow  of  my  sorrow  ;" 

and  the  description  of  him,  who 

"  Saw  with  wonder, 
Vast  magazines  of  ice  and  piles  of  thunder,"  * 

might  be  cited  to  prove  what  widely  different 
effects  are  produced  by  the  same  weapon,  as  it 
s  differently  wielded.  But,  impressed  with  the 
notions  of  the  laws  of  verse  which  I  have  speci- 
fied, that  is,  not  knowing  that  almost  all  such 

ten  words,  as  that  of  Dryden,  which  will  be  in  the  recollection 
of  every  body, 

"  Arms  and  the  man  I  sing,  &c." 

and  the    French    cite  as    beautiful    a  line  of    Racine,   which 
is  composed  of  twelve, 

"   Lej    ur  n'est  pas  plus  pur  rjue  k  fond  de  moil  civiir." 
*   I  quote  from  memory. 


INTRODUCTION.  XXV 

metrical  rules  as  have  been  alluded  to,  are 
merely  conditional,  some  Italians  *,  and  certain- 
ly, almost  all  English  readers  of  Italian  poetry, 
suppose  the  triple  rhyme,  (la  rima  sdrucciola] 
or  dactyl,  as  it  is  called  by  us,  to  be  as  exclu- 
sively applied  to  ludicrous  composition  in  Ita- 
lian, as  the  double  rhyme  is  imagined  to  be 
in  English ;  and  this  is  perhaps  one  cause  why 
some  of  Berni's  stanzas,  which  abound  in  triple 
rhymes,  have  been  so  utterly  misconceived  in 
England.  Yet  Berni  and  Ariosto  have  fre- 
quently employed  the  versi  sdruccioli  where 
they  have  aimed  at  a  bold  or  pathetic  effect, 
though  they  have  also  undoubtedly  been  used 
by  them  to  heighten  that  of  comic  or  sati- 
rical composition.  Caro  the  cotemporary  of 
Berni  is  even  profuse  of  triple  rhymes  in  his 
translation  of  the  JEneid ;  lyric  poets,  after  the 

«  Thus  Goldoni  in  one  of  his  comedies  introduces  a  man 
improvising  in  triple  rhymes  for  the  sake  of  producing  a 
ludicrous  effect.  Goldoui,  however,  'it  must  be  confessed,] 
is  no  authority  in  questions  of  language  or  of  versification. 


XXVI  INTRODUCTION. 

example  of  Chiabrera,  often  insert  them  in 
the  sublimest  of  their  odes ;  and  one,  who 
lately  died  full  of  years,  managed  the  rime 
sdrucciole  so  easily,  as  to  compose  whole  poems 
with  them,  and  with  such  dignity,  both  of 
versification  and  expression,  as  (in  the  opinion 
of  a  distinguished  Italian  friend  already  cited) 
to  vie  with  Tasso  and  Petrarch. 

Now  let  a  man  keep  such  doctrines  in  mind ; 
let  him  come  to  the  consideration  of  Berni's 
storm  with  a  memory  imbued  with  the  sights 
and  sounds  seen  and  heard  in  one ;  let  him 
consider  all  circumstances  of  metre,  not  abso- 
lutely, but  conditionally ;  that  is,  in  their  relation 
to  each  other  and  the  thing  described,  and  he 
will  then,  I  believe,  enter  into  the  real  spirit  in 
which  the  poet  executed  this  description,  and 
contemplate  him  with  very  different  eyes  from 
those  with  which  he  viewed  him  before. 

Another  cause  of  misconception,  to  which 
I  have  already  alluded,  has  probably  more 


INTRODUCTION.  XXV11 

misled  the  mob  of  readers  of  Italian  poetry, 
natives  as  well  as  foreigners.  I  mean  the  lan- 
guage of  Berni ;  and  as  to  this,  certainly  few 
very  few,  are  capable  of  appreciating  his  skill,  or 
even  of  making  out  his  track.  There  is  indeed, 
I  believe,  no  poet  of  any  country,  who  has  at- 
tempted so  difficult  a  flight;  a  flight  of  unwearied 
wing,  struck  out  with  courage,  and  maintained 
only  by  the  most  incessant  exertion  and  care. 

Traces  of  these  are  seen  in  what  may  be 
called  the  charts  on  which  he  has  pricked  out 
his  course,  and  which,  I  understand,  witness 
as  much  to  his  diligence,  as  Ariosto's  attest 
the  care  with  which  he  accomplished  his  most 
extraordinary  voyage.  The  documents  to 
which  I  allude,  are  the  original  MSS.  of 
the  Innamorato,  preserved  at  Brescia.  As  I 
was  ignorant  of  the  existence  of  these,  during 
two  residences  which  I  made  in  Italy,  I  can  only 
speak  of  them  on  the  testimony  of  others ;  but 
an  Italian  critic,  whom  I  have  often  quoted,  and 


XXV111  INTRODUCTION. 

from  whose  authority  upon  such  points  I  would 
almost  say  there  was  no  appeal,  once  assured  me 
these  are  as  much  blotted  as  those  of  Ariosto  at 
Ferrara;  and  that  Berni  seems  to  have  usually 
clothed  his  thoughts  in  ornate  language  at  first, 
which  he  rejected  on  after-consideration,  simpli- 
fying, but  at  the  same  time  improving,  his  diction, 
as  he  proceeded,  till  he  arrived  at  that  exquisite 
happiness  of  expression,  that  curiosa  felicitas, 
which  makes  his  principal  charm.  It  is  hence 
that  he  is  the  most  untranslatable  of  authors ; 
since  in  copying  him,  it  is  not  only  a  question 
of  imitating  colours,  but  the  fine  and  more 
elaborate  touches  of  a  peculiar  pencil. 

While,  however,  it  is  clear  that  the  versi- 
fication and  diction  make  the  great  charms  of 
the  Innamorato)  these  beauties  should  not  throw 
his  other  excellencies  into  shade  ;  and  the  open- 
ings of  the  different  cantos,  which  he  has  en- 
grafted on  the  original  work  of  Boiardo,  some- 
times original,  and  sometimes  imitated  from 


INTRODUCTION.  XXIX 

the  older  poets,  are  not  greatly  inferior  to  those 
which  Ariosto  has  prefixed  to  the  several  cantos 
of  the  Furioso,  in  imitation  of  him ;  no,  not  even 
in  the  higher  claims  of  poetical  merit. 

These  sometimes  consist  of  moral  reflections, 
arising  out  of  the  narrative ;  and  the  following 
may  remind  the  reader  of  one  of  those  little 
gems  scattered  through  the  plays  of  Shak- 
speare :  — 

Who  steals  a  bugle-horn,  a  ring,  a  steed, 

Or  such  like  worthless  thing,  has  some  discretion. 
'Tis  petty  larceny.  —  Not  such  his  deed 
Who  robs  us  of  our  fame,  our  best  possession  ; 
And  he  who  takes  our  labour's  worthiest  meed, 
May  well  be  deemed  a  felon  by  profession  ; 
Who  so  much  more  our  hate  and  scourge  de- 
serves, 
As  from  the  rule  of  right  he  wider  swerves. 

Sometimes  indulging  in  a  declamation  against 
vices  or  follies,  he  makes  his  satire  more  poig- 
nant by  allusions  to  some  prevalent  practice  of 


XXX  INTRODUCTION. 

the  day:  thus,  in  a  sally  against  avarice,  he 
attacks  those  who  masqued  it  under  the  dis- 
guise of  hypocrisy  in  the  following  stanza : 

This  other,  under  show  of  an  adviser 

And  practiser  of  what  is  strict  and  right; 
But  being  in  effect  a  rogue  and  miser, 
Cloisters  a  dozen  daughters  out  of  sight : 
And  fain  would  have  the  pretty  creatures  wiser 
Than  their  frail  sisters  ;  but  mistakes  them  quite  ; 
For  they  are  like  the  rest,  and  set  the  group 
Of  monks,  and  priests,  and  abbots,  cock-a-hoop. 

The  following  extract,  illustrating  a  philoso- 
phical dogma  of  his  age,  taken  from  the  opening 
of  the  forty-sixth  canto,  is  of  another  description, 
and  may  serve  as  a  specimen  of  the  variety  of 
his  vein,  and  the  odd  ingenuity  with  which  he 
winds  in  and  out  of  his  argument ;  sometimes 
bearing  up  for  his  harbour  when  in  the  middle 
of  a  digression ;  and  then,  when  he  seems  to 
feel  himself  sure  of  a  retreat,  indulging  in  a 


INTRODUCTION.  XXXI 

new  sally,  in  which  he  however  never  entirely 
loses  sight  of  his  port. 

1. 

He  who  the  name  of  little  world  applied 
To  man,  in  this  approved  his  subtle  wit: 
Since,  save  it  is  not  round,  all  things  beside 
Exactly  with  this  happy  symbol  fit ; 
And  I  may  say  that  long  and  deep,  and  wide 
And  middling,  good  and  bad,  are  found  in  it. 
Here  too,  the  various  elements  combined 
Are  dominant ;  snow,  rain,  and  mist  and  wind. 

2. 

Now  clear,  now  overcast.     'Tis  there  its  land 
Will  yield  no  fruit ;  here  bears  a  rich  supply  : 
As  the  mixt  soil  is  marie,  or  barren  sand ; 
And  haply  here  too  moist,  or  there  too  dry. 
Here  foaming  hoarse,  and  there  with  murmur 

bland, 

Streams  glide,  or  torrents  tumble  from  on  high. 
Such  of  man's  appetites  convey  the  notion  : 
Since  these  are  infinite,  and  still  in  motion. 


XXXll  INTRODUCTION. 

3. 

Two  solid  dikes  the  invading  streams  repel, 
The  one  is  Reason,  and  the  other  Shame. 
The  torrents,  if  above  their  banks  they  swell, 
Wit  and  discretion  are  too  weak  to  tame. 
The  crystal  waters,  which  so  smoothly  well, 
Are  appetites  of  things,  devoid  of  blame. 
Those  winds,  and  rains,  and  snows,  and  night, 

and  day, 
Ye  learned  clerks,  divine  them  as  ye  may. 

4. 

Among  these  elements,  misfortune  wills 

Our  nature  should  have  most  of  earth  :  for  she, 
Moved  by  what  influence  heaven  or  sun  instils, 
Is  subject  to  their  power;  nor  less  are  we. 
In  her,  this  star  or  that,  in  barren  hills 
Produces  mines  in  rich  variety  : 
And  those  who  human  nature  wisely  scan 
May  this  discern  peculiarly  in  man. 


INTRODUCTION.  XXX111 


Who  would  believe  that  various  minerals  grew, 
And  many  metals,  in  our  rugged  mind ; 
From  gold  to  nitre  ?  Yet  the  thing  is  true ; 
But,  out,  alas  !  the  rub  is  how  to  find 
This  ore.     Some  letters  and  some  wealth  pursue, 
Some  fancy  steeds,  some  dream,  at  ease  reclined ; 
These   song   delights,   and   those   the   cittern's 

sound, 
Such  are  the  mines  which  in  our  world  abound. 

6. 

As  these  are  worthier,  more  or  less,  so  they 

Abound  with  lead  or  gold ;  and  practised  wight, 

The  various  soil  accustomed  to  survey, 

Is  fitted  best  to  find  the  substance  bright. 

And  such  in  our  Apulia  is  the  way 

They  heal  those  suffering  from  the  spider's  bite  ; 

Who  strange  vagaries  play,  like  men  possessed  ; 

Tarantulated  *,  as  'tis  there  express'd. 

*  The  Tarantula  is  now  known  to  be  harmless.  The  cause 
of  its  supposed  mischievous  effects,  and  the  efficacy  of  the 
mode  of  curing  them  are  perhaps  easily  explained.  People 

b 


XXXIV  INTRODUCTION. 

7. 

For  this,  'tis  needful,  touching  sharp  or  flat, 

To  seek  a  sound  which  may  the  patients  please  ; 
Who,  when  they  find  the  merry  music  pat, 
Dance  till  they  sweat  away  the  foul  disease. 
And  thus  who  should  allure  this  man  or  that, 
And  still  with  various  offer  tempt  and  tease, 
I  wot,  in  little  time,  would  ascertain 
And  sound  each  different  mortal's  mine  and  vein. 

are  in  all  countries  (though  they  are  imagined  to  be  peculiarly 
so  in  England)  exposed  to  attacks  of  melancholy,  which  arise 
out  of  some  physical  cause,  whether  indigestion,  or  other 
bodily  complaint.  The  doctors  of  Calabria  attributed  this  to  the 
sting  of  the  tarantula,  which  is  assuredly  not  more  extravagant 
than  a  popular  English  medical  author's  ascribing  jaundice  to 
the  bite  of  a  mad  dog.  The  patient,  delighted  to  find  a  cause  for 
his  complaint,  was  easily,  by  leading  questions,  brought  to  recol- 
lect that  he  had,  at  some  time  or  other,  felt  a  prick,  which  pro- 
bably proceeded  from  the  sting  of  a  tarantula.  Dancing  was 
the  remedy  prescribed ;  and  this,  as  exciting  the  animal  spirits, 
fee.  may  very  well  have  operated  a  cure  of  the  real  disease. 
The  patients  were  to  be  played  to,  as  Berni  states,  till  a  tune 
was  struck  which  pleased  their  fancy,  and  animated  them  to 
exertion.  The  Tarantella,  an  air  supposed  to  be  particularly 
stimulating  in  such  a  case,  is  still  a  popular  dance  in  the  south 
of  Italy.  Modern  philosophers  have  found  out  that  the 
tarantula  has  no  venom. 


INTRODUCTION*  XXXV 

8. 

'Twos  so  Brunello  with  Rogero  wrought, 
Who  offered  him  the  armour  and  the  steed. 
Thus  by  the  cunning  Greek  his  aid  was  bought, 
Who  laid  fair  Ilion  smoking  on  the  mead. 
Which  was  of  yore  in  clearer  numbers  taught ; 
Nor  shall  I  now  repeat  upon  my  reed, 
Who  from  the  furrow  let  my  plough-share  stray, 
Unheeding  how  the  moments  glide  away. 


9. 


As  the  first  pilot  by  the  shore  did  creep, 

Who  launched  his  boat  upon  the  billows  dark, 
And  where  the  liquid  ocean  was  least  deep, 
And  without  sails  impelled  his  humble  barque  ; 
But  seaward  next,  where  foaming  waters  leap, 
By  little  and  by  little  steered  his  ark, 
With  nothing  but  the  wind  and  stars  to  guide, 
And  round  about  him  glorious  wonders  spied. 


b  2 


XXXVI  INTRODUCTION. 


10. 


Thus  I,  who  still  have  sung  a  humble  strain, 
And  kept  my  little  barque  within  its  bounds, 
Now  find  it  fit  to  launch  into  the  main, 
And  sing  the  fearful  warfare,  which  resounds 
Where  Africa  pours  out  her  swarthy  train, 
And    the    wide    world    with    mustered   troops 

abounds ; 

And,  fanning  fire  and  forge,  each  land  and  nation 
Sends  forth  the  dreadful  note  of  preparation. 


THE  next  extract  I  shall  give,  though  it  com- 
mences with  his  favourite  figure  of  the  barque, 
will  serve  as  a  specimen  of  a  different  style. 
It  forms  the  opening  of  the  second  book. 
The  two  first  lines  the  reader  will  trace  to 
Dante,  and  will  find  in  the  remainder  a  trans- 
lation of  the  JEneadum  Genetrix  of  Lucretius. 


INTRODUCTION.  XXXV11 


1. 

Launched  on  a  deeper  sea,  my  pinnace,  rear 
Thy  sail,  prepared  to  plough  the  billows  dark ; 
And  you,  ye  lucid  stars,  by  whom  I  steer 
My  feeble  vessel  to  its  destined  mark, 
Shine  forth  upon  her  course  benign  and  clear, 
And  beam  propitious  on  the  daring  barque 
About  to  stem  an  ocean  so  profound : 
While  I  your  praises  and  your  works  resound. 

2. 

O,  holy  mother  of  JEneas  !    O, 
Daughter  of  Jove  !   thou  bliss  of  gods  above 
And  men  beneath ;  VENUS,  who  makest  grow 
Green  herb  and  plant,  and  fillest  all  with  love ; 
Thou  creatures  that  would   else   be   cold  and 

slow, 

Dost  with  thy  sovereign  instinct  warm  and  move, 
Thou  dost  all  jarring  things  in  peace  unite  — 
The  world's  eternal  spirit,  life  and  light. 
b  3 


XXXVJ11  INTRODUCTION. 

3. 

At  thine  appearance  storm  and  rain  have  ceased, 
And  zephyr  has  unlocked  the  genial  ground  ; 
Leap  the  wild  herds ; — 'tis  wanton  nature's  feast, — 
And  the  green  woods  with  singing  birds  resound  ; 
While  by  strange  pleasure  stung,  the  savage  beast 
Lives  but  for  love  ;  what  time  their  greenwood 

round 

All  creatures  rove,  or  couch  upon  the  sward, 
Discord  and  hate  forgot,  in  sweet  accord. 

4-. 

Thee,  kind  and  gentle  star  !  thy  suppliant  prays  ; 
To  thee  I  sue  by  every  bolt  which  flies 
Thro'  the  fifth  planet*,  melting  with  thy  rays, 
When  panting  on  thy  lap  the  godhead  lies, 
And  lock'd  within  thine  arms,  with  upward  gaze, 
Feeds  on  thy  visage  his  desiring  eyes : 
That  thou  wilt  gain  for  me  his  grace,  and  grown 
Propitious,  with  his  grace  accord  thine  own. 

*  Mars. 


INTRODUCTION.  XXXIX 


5. 

Since  'tis  of  thee  I  sing,  as  I  have  said, 

And  only  of  thy  praise  and  pleasures  dream ; 
Well  pleased  I  to  this  fruitful  field  was  led, 
And  sure  I  could  not  choose  a  sweeter  theme. 
Thou  too,  that  down  thy  clear  and  ample  bed 
Dost  run  with  grateful  murmur,  RAPID  STREAM, 
Awhile  from  thine  impetuous  course  refrain, 
While  on  thy  banks  I  tune  my  mingled  strain. 

In  the  concluding  address  to  the  river,  he 
apostrophizes  the  Adige,  on  whose  banks  he 
might  be  said  to  be  writing,  as  he  was  then 
living  hi  the  town  of  Verona,  which  is  watered 
by  it,  in  the  service  of  the  Cardinal  di  Bib- 
biena. 

One  more  specimen  of  his  poetical  prefaces, 

and  I  have  done.     It  is  the  introduction  to  his 

third  book ;    and  in  this  too  the  reader,  who 

will  recognize  a  passage  of  the  ars  poetica  of 

b  4 


xl  INTRODUCTION. 

Horace,  may  observe  how  well  Berni  translates 
and  applies  his  classical  recollections. 

1. 

As  they,  who  their  unhappy  task  fulfil 

In  mines  of  England,  Hungary,  and  Spain, 
The  deeper  that  they  dig  the  mountain,  still 
Find  richer  treasure  and  securer  gain  ; 
And  as  wayfaring  man  who  climbs  a  hill, 
Surveys,  as  he  ascends,  a  wider  plain, 
And  shores  and  oceans  open  on  his  eye, 
Exalted  nearer  to  the  starry  sky  : 

2. 

So  in  this  book,  indited  for  your  pleasure, 
If  you  believe  and  listen  to  my  lore, 
You,  in  advancing,  shall  discern  new  treasure, 
And  catch  new  lights  and  landscapes  evermore. 
Then  by  no  former  scale  my  promise  measure, 
Nor  judge  this  strain  by  that  which  went  before: 
Since  still  my  caves  and  rugged  rocks  unfold 
A  richer  vein  of  jewels,  pearls,  and  gold. 


INTRODUCTION.  xli 


3. 

And  he  who  winds  about  my  mountain's  side, 
Still  spies  new  lands  and  seas,  a  glorious  sight, 
If  patient  industry  and  courage  guide 
Him  from  the  valley  to  the  frowning  height. 
Like  prospect  was  the  poet's  who  supplied 
Flame  out  of  smoke,  instead  of  smoke  from  light ; 
With  wise  Ulysses'  acts  to  fill  our  ears, 
To  the  more  wonderment  of  him  who  hears. 

So  much  for  the  poetry  of  Berni.  His  life 
was  not  such  as  reflected  any  lustre  on  his 
works.  This,  if  we  reject  some  foul  imputa- 
tions cast  upon  him,  was,  to  say  the  least  of  it, 
disreputable.  It  is,  however,  certain,  that  being 
at  last  established  in  a  canonry  at  Florence, 
he  lived  there  in  high  and  accomplished  society. 
This  fact,  however,  in  a  profligate  age,  like  that 
in  which  he  flourished,  proves  nothing  in  his 


xlii  INTRODUCTION. 

favour ;  and,  it'  we  listened  to  the  stories  of  his 
biographers,  we  might  suppose  him  even  to 
have  been  courted  for  some  of  his  vicious  pro- 
pensities :  for  one  of  these  writers  tells  us  he 
was  excited  by  the  cardinal  Ippolito  de'  Medici 
to  poison  the  duke  Alexander,  against  whom 
he  had  a  private  pique;  another,  would  have 
us  believe  that  he  was  tempted  by  the  duke  to 
poison  the  cardinal ;  and  (to  complicate  the 
matter  yet  more)  that  the  cardinal  or  the  duke, 
or  both,  had  poison  administered  to  Berni 
himself,  upon  his  refusal.  The  dates,  how- 
ever, of  their  respective  deaths,  are  at  variance 
with  these  strange  assertions ;  and  if  such 
certain  means  of  contradiction  were  wanting, 
the  internal  evidence  of  Berni's  character,  how- 
ever vicious,  might  be  almost  sufficient  to  refute 
such  improbable  calumnies.  It  may  be  said, 
indeed,  that  perhaps  no  one  was  ever  selected 
as  a  probable  agent  of  guilt,  who  seems  to  have 


INTRODUCTION.  xliii 

been  so  little  capable  of  engaging  in  the  sort 
of  crimes  which  were  expected  of  him. 

As  a  proof  of  this  we  might  almost  refer  to 
the  picture  which  he  has  given  of  himself,  and 
which  carries  with  it  every  warrant  of  resem- 
blance. In  one  of  the  cantos  of  the  last  book 
of  the  Innamorato,  he  describes  a  number  of 
persons  as  having  become  the  victims  of  a 
tairy,  of  whom  they  afterwards  remain  the 
voluntary  prisoners.  Among  these  he  has, 
in  imitation  of  certain  painters,  introduced  him- 
self with  another  known  character  of  the  day : 
a  circumstance  which,  together  with  the  nature 
of  the  episode,  might  lead  one  to  suspect 
that  Thomson  was  indebted  to  this  fiction  for 
his  Castle  of  Indolence.  He  has,  however, 
given  the  tenants  of  his  "  bowers  of  ease,"  a 
character  so  much  more  intellectual  than  that 
of  Berni's  actors,  that  he  may  very  fairly  pretend 
to  the  praise  of  original  composition,  even  if  his 


xliv  INTRODUCTION. 

work  be  an  imitation  instead  of  a  mere  acci- 
dental coincidence;  which  I  am  more  tempted 
to  believe.*  But  I  draw  the  curtain  of  Berni's 
picture. 


*  I  do  not  recollect  any  authority  for  Thomson's  having 
been  conversant  with  Italian  poetry ;  and  I  think  that  a  view 
of  his  works  would  lead  to  a  contrary  supposition.  Thus  I 
should  say  that  though  no  man  could  copy  what  he  actually 
saw  with  a  nicer  hand  or  eye,  no  man  had  more  need  of  study 
in  the  Italian  school  of  ideal  picture  than  this  English  poet. 
Jn  his  drawings  from  nature  his  colouring  is  as  inimitable  as 
his  design  ;  and  his  bird,  who 

"  Shivers  every  feather  with  desire," 

is  painted  with  the  precision  as  well  as  the  force  of  the  Flemish 
pencil.  Yet  he  has  personified  Autumn  as 

"   Crowned  u-ith  the  sickle  and  the  wheaten  sheaf," 

thus  putting  on  his  head  what  should  have  been  in  his  hand, 
and  presenting  us  a  ludicrous  figure  surmounted  by  a  "  crum- 
pled horn."  No  Italian  poet  would  have  painted  from  nature 
with  Thomson's  marvellous  precision;  and  no  Italian  poet 
would  have  committed  such  gross  offences  against  propriety  as 
he  has,  in  his  imaginary  pictures. 


INTRODUCTION.  xv 

BOOK  III.     CANTO  VII. 
36. 

A  boon  companion  to  increase  this  crew 
By  chance,  a  gentle  Florentine,  was  led ; 
A  Florentine,  altho'  the  father  who 
Begot  him,  in  the  Casentine  was  bred ; 
Who  nigh  become  a  burgher  of  his  new 
Domicile,  there  was  well  content  to  wed ; 
And  so  in  Bibbiena  wived,  which  ranks 
Among  the  pleasant  towns  on  Arno's  banks. " 

37. 

At  Lamporecchio,  he  of  whom  I  write 

Was  born,  for  dumb  Masetto  *  fam'd  of  yore, 
Thence  roam'd  to  Florence  ;  and  in  piteous  plight 
There  sojourned  till  nineteen,  like  pilgrim  poor ; 
And  shifted  thence  to  Rome,  with  second  flight 
Hoping  some  succour  from  a  kinsman's  store ; 
A  cardinal  allied  to  him  by  blood, 
And  one  that  neither  did  him  harm  nor  good. 
*  See  Boccaccio. 


xlvi  INTRODUCTION. 


38. 

He  to  the  nephew  passed,  this  patron  dead, 
Who  the  same  measure  as  his  uncle  meted  ; 
And  then  again  in  search  of  better  bread, 
With  empty  bowels  from  his  house  retreated ; 
And  hearing,  for  his  name  and  fame  were  spread, 
The  praise  of  one  who  serv'd  the  pope  repeated, 
And  in  the  Roman  court  Datario  hight, 
He  hired  himself  to  him  to  read  and  write. 

39. 

This  trade  the  unhappy  man  believed  he  knew; 
But  this  belief  was,  like  the  rest,  a  bubble, 
Since  he  could  never  please  the  patron,  who 
Fed  him,  nor  ever  once  was  out  of  trouble. 
The  worse  he  did,  the  more  he  had  to  do, 
And  only  made  his  pain  and  penance  double : 
And  thus,  with  sleeves  and  bosom  stuffed  with 

papers, 
Wasted  his  wits,  and  lived  oppressed  with  vapours. 


INTRODUCTION.  xlvii 

40. 

Add  for  his  mischief  (whether  'twas  his  little 
Merit,  misfortune,  or  his  want  of  skill) 
Some  cures  he  farmed  produced  him  not  a  tittle, 
And  only  were  a  source  of  plague  and  ill. 
Fire,  water,  storm,  or  devil,  sacked  vines  and 

victual, 

Whether  the  luckless  wretch  would  tythe  or  till. 
Some   pensions  too,  which  he  possessed,  were 

nought, 
And,  like  the  rest,  produced  him  not  a  groat. 

41. 

This  notwithstanding,  he  his  miseries  slighted, 
Like  happy  man,  who  not  too  deeply  feels ; 
And  all,  but  most  the  Roman  lords,  delighted, 
Content  in  spite  of  tempests,  writs,  or  seals, 
And  oftentimes,  to  make  them  mirth,  recited 
Strange  chapters  upon  urinals  and  eels  ;  * 
And  other  mad  vagaries  would  rehearse, 
That  he  had  hitched,  Heaven  help  him !  into  verse. 

*   See  his  Cajntoli  sugli  Orinali,  Sulk  dtiqitille,  etc. 


xlviii  INTRODUCTION. 


42. 


His  mood  was  choleric,  and  his  tongue  was  vicious, 
But  he  was  praised  for  singleness  of  heart ; 
Not  taxed  as  avaricious  or  ambitious, 
Affectionate,  and  frank,  and  void  of  art ; 
A  lover  of  his  friends,  and  unsuspicious  ; 
But  where  he  hated,  knew  no  middle  part ; 
And  men  his  malice  by  his  love  might  rate  : 
But  then  he  was  more  prone  to  love  than  hate. 


43. 

To  paint  his  person,  this  was  thin  and  dry  ; 
Well  sorting  it,  his  legs  were  spare  and  lean ; 
Broad  was  his  visage,  and  his  nose  was  high, 
While  narrow  was  the  space  that  was  between 
His  eye-brows  sharp ;  and  blue  his  hollow  eye, 
Which  for  his  bushy  beard  had  not  been  seen, 
But  that  the  master  kept  this  thicket  clear'd, 
At  mortal  war  with  moustache  and  with  board. 


INTRODUCTION. 


44. 


No  one  did  ever  servitude  detest 

Like  him  ;  though  servitude  was  still  his  dole : 
Since  fortune  or  the  devil  did  their  best 
To  keep  him  evermore  beneath  controul. 
While,  whatsoever  was  his  patron's  hest, 
To  execute  it  went  against  his  soul ; 
His  service  would  he  freely  yield,  unasked, 
But  lost  all  heart  and  hope,  if  he  were  tasked. 

45. 

Nor  musick,  hunting-match,  nor  mirthful  measure, 
Nor  play,  nor  other  pastime  moved  him  aught; 
And  if  'twas  true  that  horses  gave  him  pleasure, 
The  simple  sight  of  them  was  all  he  sought, 
Too  poor  to  purchase ;  and  his  only  treasure 
His  naked  bed  :  his  pastime  to  do  nought 
But  tumble  there,  and  stretch  his  weary  length, 
And  so  recruit  his  spirits  and  his  strength, 
c 


INTRODUCTION. 


46. 

Worn  with  the  trade  he  long  was  used  to  slave  in, 
So  heartless  and  so  broken  down  was  he  ; 
He  deemed  he  could  not  find  a  readier  haven, 
Or  safer  port  from  that  tempestuous  sea ; 
Nor  better  cordial  to  recruit  his  craven 
And  jaded  spirit,  when  he  once  was  free, 
Than  to  betake  himself  to  bed,  and  do 
Nothing,  and  mind  and  matter  so  renew. 

47. 

On  this  as  on  an  art,  he  would  dilate, 

In  good  set  terms,  and  styled  his  bed  a  vest, 
Which,    as    the   wearer   pleased,   was    small    or 

great, 

And  of  whatever  fashion  liked  him  best ; 
A  simple  mantle,  or  a  robe  of  state  ; 
With  that  a  gown  of  comfort  and  of  rest : 
Since  whosoever  slipt  his  daily  clothes 
For  this,  put  off  with  these  all  worldly  woes. 


INTRODUCTION.  II 


48. 

He  by  the  noise  and  lights  and  music  jaded 
Of  that  long  revel,  and  the  tramp  and  tread, 
(Since  every  guest  in  his  desires  was  aided, 
And  knaves  performed  their  will  as  soon  as  said,) 
Found  out  a  chamber  which  was  uninvaded, 
And  bade  those  varlets  there  prepare  a  bed, 
Garnished  with  bolsters  and  with  pillows  fair, 
At  its  four  borders,  and  exactly  square. 

49. 

This  was  six  yards  across  by  mensuration, 

With  sheets  and  curtains  bleached  by  wave  and 

breeze, 

With  a  silk  quilt  for  farther  consolation, 
And  all  things  fitting  else :  tho'  hard  to  please, 
Six  souls  therein  had  found  accommodation 
But  this  man  sighed  for  elbow-room  and  ease, 
And  here  as  in  a  bed  was  fain  to  swim, 
Extending  at  his  pleasure  length  and  limb, 
c  2 


Ill  INTRODUCTION. 


50. 


By  chance  with  him,  to  join  the  fairy's  train, 
A  Frenchman  and  a  cook  was  thither  brought ; 
One  that  had  served  in  court  with  little  gain, 
Though   he  with    sovereign    care    and  cunning 

wrought. 

For  him,  prepared  with  sheet  and  counterpane, 
Another  bed  was,  like  his  fellow's,  sought : 
And  'twixt  the  two,  sufficient  space  was  seen 
For  a  fair  table  to  be  placed  between. 

51. 

Upon  this  table,  for  the  pair  to  dine, 

Were  savoury  viands  piled,  prepared  with  art ; 
All  ordered  by  this  master-cook  divine ; 
Boiled,  roast,  ragouts  and  jellies,  paste  and  tart  : 
But  soups  and  syrups  pleased  the  Florentine, 
Who  loathed  fatigue  like  death,  and  for  his  part, 
Brought  neither  teeth  nor  fingers  into  play ; 
But  made  two  varlets  feed  him  as  he  lay 


INTRODUCTION'.  UH 


52. 


Here  couchant,  nothing  but  his  head  was  spied, 
Sheeted  and  quilted  to  the  very  chin ; 
And  needful  food  a  serving  man  supplied 
Thro'  pipe  of  silver,  placed  the  mouth  within. 
Meantime  the  sluggard  moved  no  part  beside, 
Holding  all  motion  else  were  shame  and  sin ; 
And  (so  his  spirits  and  his  health  were  broke) 
Not  to  fatigue  this  organ,  seldom  spoke. 


53. 


The  cook  was  master  Peter  hight,  and  he 
Had  tales  at  will  to  while  away  the  day ; 
To  him  the  Florentine  :  "  Those  fools,  pardie, 

"  Have  little  wit,  who  dance  that  endless  Hay ;" 
And  Peter  in  return,  "  I  think  with  thee." 
Then  with  some  merry  story  backed  the  say ; 
Swallowed  a  mouthful  and  turned  round  in  bed ; 
And  so,  by  starts,  talked,  turned,  and  slept,  and 
fed. 


IJV  INTRODUCTION. 


54. 

And  so  the  time  these  careless  comrades  cheated, 
And  still,  without  a  change,  ate,  drank,  and  slept 
Nor  by  the  calendar  their  seasons  meeted, 
Nor  register  of  days  or  sennights  kept : 
No  dial  told  the  passing  hours,  which  fleeted, 
Nor  bell  was  heard  ;  nor  servant  overstept 
The  threshold  (so  the  pair  proclaimed  their  will) 
To  bring  them  tale  or  tidings,  good  or  ill. 

55. 

Above  all  other  curses,  pen  and  ink 

Were  by  the  Tuscan  held  in  hate  and  scorn ; 

Who,  worse  than  any  loathsome  sight  or  stink, 

Detested  pen  and  paper,  ink  and  horn : 

So  deeply  did  a  deadly  venom  sink, 

So  festered  in  his  flesh  a  rankling  thorn; 

While,  night  and  day,  with  heart  and  garments 

rent, 
Seven  weary  years  the  wretch  in  writing  spent. 


INTRODUCTION.  lv 


56. 


Of  all  their  ways  to  baffle  time  and  tide, 

This  seems  the  strangest  of  their  waking  dreams  : 
Couched  on  their  back,  the  two  the  rafters  eyed, 
And  taxed  their  drowsy  wits  to  count  the  beams  ; 
"Tis  thus  they  mark  at  leisure,  which  is  wide, 
Which  short,  or  which  of  due  proportion  seems  ; 
And  which  worm-eaten  are,  and  which  are  sound, 
And  if  the  total  sum  is  odd  or  round.  * 

Having  in  the  preceding  part  of  this  intro- 
duction, given  some  account  of  the  mode  in 
which  I  have  executed  my  task  as  a  translator, 
it  may  be  expected  that  I  should  give  some 
information  respecting  my  labours  as  an  editor. 
To  speak  frankly,  I  have  none  to  give  :  having 
annexed  no  commentary,  or,  at  least,  nothing- 
worthy  of  being  called  a  commentary,  to  this 

*  I  have  already  given  a  loose  translation  of  this  part  of 
Berni's  acccount  of  himself  in  the  Court  of  Bensts. 


Ivi  INTRODUCTION. 

work.  Some  readers  may,  perhaps,  think  I 
have  in  this  neglected  my  duty,  and  reproach 
me  with  not  having  pointed  out  the  sources 
from  which  many  of  the  fictions  in  the  Innamo- 
rato  are  borrowed,  or  at  least  the  points  of 
resemblance  which  may  be  found  between  many 
of  these  and  other  ancient  stories.  It  appeared, 
however,  to  me,  that  my  readers  were  as  likely 
as  myself  to  be  conversant  with  incidents  to  be 
found  in  the  Spectator,  Persian  Talcs,  Arabian 
Nighfs,  and  Bibltotheque  Orientate.  Others 
who  will,  perhaps,  thank  me  for  sparing  them 
such  a  display  of  common-place  knowledge 
may,  however,  think  I  have  erred  in  having 
done  nothing  to  illustrate  the  allegory  of  the 
Innamorato.  If  I  have  not,  the  omission  has 
arisen  from  a  conviction  of  the  inutility  of 
such  an  attempt.  I  have  read  much  that  has 
been  written  upon  the  allegory  of  the  Furioso, 
yet  never  met  with  any  explanation  of  it, 
which  I  considered  as  satisfactory  to  myself, 


INTRODUCTION.  Ivli 

though  I  was  persuaded  that  the  commentators 
were  right.  Holding  obscurity  to  be  one 
source  of  the  sublime  in  this  branch  of  ima- 
gination, though  I  will  not  venture  to  extend 
the  position  further,  it  appears  to  me  that 
the  reader  always  best  fills  up  an  indistinct 
outline,  according  to  his  own  fancy,  and  is 
more  likely  to  derive  pleasure  from  doing  so, 
than  from  a  solution  which  usually  presents 
him  with  something  very  different  from 
what  he  had  preconceived.  It  is  this  con- 
sideration which  has  restrained  me  from  doing- 

O 

more  than  throwing  out  a  few  ideas  which  sug- 
gested themselves  on  some  parts  of  Boiardo's 
allegory,  and  no  wish  to  avoid  any  trouble 
which  I  might  have  thought  satisfactorily  be- 
stowed on  it.  Still  less  have  I  been  influenced 
by  any  fear  of  that  ridicule  which  is  so  readily 
discharged  upon  Italian  commentators,  or  those 
who  report  their  lucubrations ;  for  I  can  safely 
say,  that  I  should  have  pursued  the  research  to 
d 


Iviii  INTRODUCTION. 

which  I  have  alluded,  if  I  had  thought  I  could 
have  done  so  with  any  satisfaction  to  myself, 
though  I  had  met  with  no  better  recompence 
than  that  of  being  compared  to  the  ass  who 
carried  off  the  dead  body  of  the  sphynx,  after 
her  enigma  had  been  unriddled,  and  she  herself 
slain  by  CEdipus. 


ERRATA. 


Page  xlviii.  5th  line   of  Stanza  43.,   lake  out  the   semicolon 

after  "eye-brows,"  and  place  it  after  "sharp." 
li.  7th  line  of  Stanza  49.,  for  "  bed"  read  "  sea." 
5.  line  8th  from  bottom,  for  "  But"  read  "  Yet." 
71.  line  1st,  after  "  army"  read  "  that." 


THE 


ORLANDO  INNAMORATO. 

BOOK  I. 


ARGUMENT. 

Gradasso,  king  of  Sericane,  meditates  the  invasion  of 
France,  in  order  to  obtain  Bayardo  and  Durindana.  In  the 
mean  time  Charlemagne  is  holding  a  court  plenar  at  Paris ; 
where  the  appearance  of  Angelica  excites  much  confusion 
amid  the  assembled  knights.  She  returns  towards  her  own 
kingdom,  pursued  by  Orlando  and  Rinaldo.  Rinaldo  having, 
however,  drunk  of  the  waters  of  Disdain,  while  she  has  unfor- 
tunately tasted  those  of  Love,  is  seized  with  loathing  for  the 
damsel,  and  is,  in  his  turn,  followed  in  vain  by  her,  whom  he 
before  pursued.  He  is  now  sent  by  Charlemagne  in  defence 
of  Marsilius,  king  of  Spain,  whose  territories  were  invaded 
by  Gradasso.  in  his  progress  towards  France.  He  is  here 
separated  from  his  army  by  a  device  of  Malagigi,  his  own 
brother,  who  is  become  the  tool  of  Angelica,  and  his  troops, 
left  without  their  leader,  return  home.  Marsilius,  in  conse- 
quence of  this  desertion,  buys  peace  of  Gradasso,  by  assisting 
him  in  his  invasion  of  France.  Here  Charlemagne  and  his 
B 


paladins  are  made  prisoners  in  a  thorough  rout  of  the  Chris- 
tian army.  Gradasso,  however,  offers  him  peace  and  liberty 
for  himself  and  followers,  on  the  delivery  of  Bayardo,  who 
had  been  brought  back  from  Spain  by  the  French  troops,  and 
on  his  promise  to  send  him  Durindana  as  soon  as  it  is  in  his 
power.  Charlemagne  of  course  consents,  and  sends  to  Paris 
for  the  horse.  This  is,  however,  refused  by  Astolpho,  who  had 
taken  upon  himself  the  government  of  the  city,  and  who  sends 
a  defiance  to  Gradasso.  They  meet,  and  the  Indian  king  is 
unhorsed,  who,  in  compliance  with  the  conditions  of  a  previous 
agreement,  frees  his  prisoners  and  returns  to  Sericana.  As- 
tolpho, too,  dissatisfied  with  the  conduct  of  Charlemagne,  de- 
parts from  France.  He  now  enrolls  himself  amongst  the  de- 
fenders of  Angelica,  besieged  by  Agrican  in  Albracca,  in  which 
warfare  he  is  made  prisoner;  Orlando,  with  other  puissant 
knights,  takes  the  same  side,  and  slays  Agrican  in  single  com- 
bat. On  the  other  part,  Rinaldo  (whose  hatred  to  Angelica 
equals  his  former  love)  joins  the  camp  of  the  besiegers,  and  a 
desperate  battle  is  fought  between  him  and  Orlando.  Ange- 
lica, however,  still  enamoured  of  Rinaldo,  separates  them  and 
dispatches  Orlando  upon  a  perilous  quest.  Many  other  ad- 
ventures are  achieved  by  these  and  other  knights,  and  many 
episodes  are  connected  with  the  two  principal  actions  of  the 
book,  viz.  the  invasion  of  France,  and  the  war  before 
Albracca. 


BOOK  I. 


THE  story  says  that  there  reigned  formerly  in 
parts  beyond  India,  a  mighty  monarch,  who  was 
moreover  so  valiant  and  powerful  in  war  that  no 
one  could  stand  against  him ;  he  was  named 
Gradasso ;  he  had  the  face  and  heart  of  a  dra- 
gon, and  was  in  stature  a  giant.  But,  as  it 
often  happens  to  the  greatest  and  to  the  richest, 
to  long  for  what  they  cannot  have,  and  thus  to 
lose  what  they  already  possess,  this  king  could 
not  rest  content  without  Durindana  the  sword 
of  Orlando,  and  Bayardo  the  horse  of  Rinaldo. 
To  obtain  which,  he  determined  to  war  upon 
France,  and  for  this  expedition  chose  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  horsemen. 
B  2 


4-  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

But  the  author  suspends  the  further  mention 
of  this  monarch,  of  whom  we  shall  soon  again 
hear,  to  speak  of  Charlemagne,  who  had  or- 
dered magnificent  jousts,  and  summoned  thither 
all  and  singular  his  barons.  And  to  this 
court  plenar,  besides  his  paladins,  and  greater 
and  lesser  vassals  of  the  crown,  were  bid  all 
strangers,  baptized  or  infidel,  then  sojourning 
at  Paris.  Amongst  the  guests  were  the*  giant 
Grandonio,  Ferrau,  the  king  Balugantes,  a 
relation  of  Charlemagne,  Isolier  and  Serpen- 
tin,  who  were  companions,  and  many  others. 

And  now  was  the  day  when  the  great  festival 
was  to  begin  with  a  sumptuous  banquet,  made 
by  Charlemagne,  who  assisted  at  it  in  his  royal 
robes,  and  entertained,  between  Christians  and 
Pagans,  twenty-two  thousand  and  thirty  guests. 

The  tables,  spread  right  and  left,  were  or- 
dered with  due  discrimination.  At  the  first 
were  seated  the  kings  of  Christendom,  an  Eng- 
lish, a  Lombard,  and  a  Breton  to  wit,  Otho, 


BOOK  I.  JNNAMORATO.  5 

Desiderius,  and  Salomon :  and  next  these  all 
others,  according  to  their  dignity  and  the 
esteem  in  which  they  were  held.  At  the  second 
table  were  placed  the  dukes  and  marquisses ; 
and  at  the  third,  the  counts  and  simple  knights. 
Those  of  the  house  of  Maganza  were  especially 
honoured,  and  above  all  the  others,  Gano  of 
Poictiers.  Rinaldo  saw  this  with  eyes  of  fire ; 
the  more  so  that  these  traitors,  laughing  amongst 
themselves,  were  mocking  him  as  not  equally 
distinguished  by  the  king.  Accordingly  we  are 
told: 

But  while  his  heart  with  smothered  fury  beats, 
He  feigns  to  trifle  with  the  cups  and  glasses  : 
But,  inly  murmuring,  to  himself  repeats 
"  False,  ribald  crew !  before  to-morrow  passes, 
"  This  arm  shall  prove  if  you  can  keep  your  seats ; 
"  Spawn  of  a  nest  of  vipers,  idiots,  asses ! 
"  And  well  I  wot  to  have  you  on  the  hip, 
"  Unless  my  weapon  swerve,  or  courser  slip." 

B  3 


THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 


King  Balugantes  marked  his  discontent, 

And  reading,  as  he  weened,  his  secret  thought, 
To  him  his  trucheman  with  a  message  sent, 
To  wot  if  it  was  true,  as  he  was  taught, 
That  honour,  not  by  worth  and  wisdom  went, 
But  in  this  Christian  court  was  sold  and  bought : 
That  he  a  stranger  and  a  Turk,  if  true, 
Might  render  each  and  all  the  honour  due. 

The  good  Ilinaldo  smiled,  and  to  the  sable 

Reporter  of  the  royal  message  said, — 
"  To  solve  the  question,  as  I  best  am  able, 
"  (If  I  in  rules  of  court  am  rightly  read,) 
"  Honour  and  place  to  glutton  at  the  table 
"  Are  duly  yielded,  as  to  dame  in  bed ; 
"  But  in  the  field,  where  warriors  spur  their  steeds, 
"  The  worth  of  man  is  measured  by  his  deeds." 

While  this  conversation  is  passing,  music  sounds; 
the  meats  are  served  up,  and  the  feast  is  com- 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  7 

menced  with  all  the  pomp  and  circumstance  of 
chivalric  magnificence. 

In  the  middle  of  this  their  merriment,  four 
giants  enter  the  further  end  of  the  hall,  having 
between  them  a  damsel  of  incomparable  beauty, 
attended  by  a  single  knight.  Many  ladies  (some 
of  whose  names  are  specified)  were  seated  at  the 
different  tables :  but  all  were  outshone  by  the 
beautiful  stranger.  The  Christians,  lords  or 
simple  knights,  swarm  about  the  damsel,  and 
every  Pagan  is  in  an  instant  on  his  feet.  She 
smiles  upon  all;  but  forthwith  addresses  herself 
to  Charlemagne.  After  a  complimentary  preface, 
"  Sir  King,"  said  the  damsel,  "  before  I  show 
"  the  motive  which  has  brought  us  hither,  learn 
"  that  this  knight  is  my  brother  Uberto,  and 
"  that  I  am  his  sister,  Angelica;  both  of  us 
"  banished  without  reason  from  the  paternal 
"  mansion.  Upon  the  Tanais,  where  we  dwelt, 
'*  two  hundred  days'  journey  from  hence,  news 
B  4- 


8  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

"  were  brought  us  of  this  feast ;  and  we  have 
"  traversed  so  many  provinces  to  see  your  mag- 
"  nificence,  and,  if  possible,  to  gain  the  wreath 
"  of  roses,  which  is  said  to  be  the  guerdon  of 
"  the  jousts. 

"  For  this  purpose,  my  brother  awaits  all 
"  comers,  Christian  or  Saracen,  at  the  stair  of 
"  Merlin  * ;  it  being  premised  that  the  war  is  to 
"  be  conducted  on  the  following  conditions  : 
"  Whoever  is  unseated  in  the  tilt,  shall  be 
"  allowed  no  further  course  or  trial,  but  remain 


*  It  may  be  observed,  that  the  abode  of  Merlin  and  the  tomb 
of  Merlin  are  always  placed  by  the  first  romancers,  to  wit, 
those  of  the  Round  Table,  in  Britain  ;  and  their  constantly  lay- 
ing their  scene  in  our  island,  and  choosing  their  actors  from 
thence,  has  led  M.  de  la  Rue,  and  after  him,  Mr.  George  Ellis, 
to  suppose  that  these  earliest  romancers  were  subjects  of 
English  kings,  who  wrote  for  the  amusement  of  their  court, 
the  language  of  which  was  Norman.  The  romancers,  however, 
who  celebrated  Charlemagne,  and  who  were  doubtless  French, 
very  naturally  chose  their  heroes  from  France,  and  transferred 
the  scene  to  that  country.  To  these,  I  have  already  said,  that 
Boiardo  and  Ariosto  are  mainly  indebted  for  their  fictions. 


BOOK  I.  1NNAMORATO.  9 

"  the  prisoner  of  him  by  whom  he  was  un- 
"  horsed:  while  whoever  flings  my  brother 
"  shall  have  me  for  his  reward;  and  Uberto 
"  shall  depart  with  his  giants." 

She  remains  kneeling  awhile  before  Charles, 
as  waiting  his  answer.  All  behold  the  damsel 
in  mute  admiration;  but,  above  all,  Orlando,  ap- 
proaching her  with  downcast  eyes,  gives  the  first 
signs  of  the  passion  which  was  destined  to  be 
his  ruin.  While  Orlando  is  thus  love-stricken, 
he  is  not  single  in  his  folly ;  and  even  the  grey- 
haired  Namus,  and  Charles  himself,  participate 
in  it.  But,  while  these  and  all  the  rest  gaze 
upon  her  in  silence,  Ferrau  is  so  transported 
with  passion  as  to  be  about  to  snatch  her  up  in 
his  arms,  and  transport  her  away  from  the 
presence.  Respect  for  Charlemagne,  however, 
restrains  him.  While  this  is  passing,  Malagigi, 
brother  to  Rinaldo,  a  puissant  magician,  closely 
observes  the  strangers,  and  reads  in  them  some 


10  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

mysterious  purpose,  different  from  what  they 
pretended  to  be  the  object  of  their  expedition. 
Charlemagne  had  now  recovered  from  his  em- 
barrassment sufficiently  to  speak,  and  plied 
Angelica  with  different  subjects  of  discourse, 
for  the  purpose  of  detaining  her ;  but  at  length, 
not  being  able  to  prolong  the  interview  with 
decency,  gave  her  a  dismissal  by  according  the 
request 

The   damsel  has  scarce  left  the  city,  when 
Malagigi 

Still  fearing  for  the  king,  and  full  of  care, 
Flies  to  his  book,  retiring  from  the  revel, 
To  know  the  secret  purpose  of  the  pair, 
And  at  what  aim  the  knight  and  damsel  level. 
He  reads ;  and,  as  he  reads,  in  upper  air 
Is  heard  a  voice,  and  next  appears  a  devil, 
Who  bids,  in  haughty  tone,  the  wise  magician 
Proclaim  his  will,  and  give  him  his  dismission. 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  11 

Malagigi  having  proposed  his  questions,  the 
fiend  informs  him  that  Angelica  is  an  enemy 
come  to  put  a  notable  scorn  upon  Charlemagne, 
and  that  her  father,  who  is  an  ancient  Indian 
king,  called  Galaphron,  of  Catay,  has  dispatched 
her  for  this  object,  accompanied  by  her  brother, 
Argalia,  and  not  Uberto,  as  she  falsely  desig- 
nated him  :  that  she  is  full  of  malice,  and  read 
in  every  sort  of  magic,  whilst  her  brother  is  as 
valiant  in  arms,  gifted  with  a  courser  of  mar- 
vellous swiftness,  and  armed  with  an  enchanted 
lance  :  the  virtue  of  this  is  such,  that  no 
knight  (no,  not  even  Orlando  or  Rinaldo) 
could  resist  its  push ;  nor  are  his  other  arms 
inferior  to  his  spear.  To  this;  he  has  re- 
ceived from  his  father  a  ring,  which,  when  on 
the  finger,  makes  enchantment  of  no  effect,  and 
when  placed  between  the  lips  renders  the  wear- 
er invisible.  Galaphron,  it  is  added,  reckons 
much  upon  these  gifts,  but  yet  more  upon  the 


12  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

beauty  of  his  daughter.  Hence  he  has  dis- 
patched Argalia  with  the  damsel,  in  trust,  that 
she  shall  entice  the  Paladins  into  duel  with  her 
brother,  who,  unhorsing  them,  will  send  them 
prisoners  to  Catay.  Malagigi  is  much  disturbed 
at  the  devil's  news,  and  determines  to  seek  the 
damsel  in  person,  and  frustrate  her  design. 
Argalia  was  already  reposing  himself  under  a 
fair  pavilion,  pitched  near  the  stair  of  Merlin, 
while 

Angelica  beneath  a  pine  was  sleeping, 

Her  long  light  tresses  scattered  on  the  grass, 
Beside  a  limpid  font,  whose  waters,  leaping, 
Fell  back  into  a  pool  as  clear  as  glass. 
A  giant  had  the  damsel  in  his  keeping, 
Who  might  for  a  reposing  angel  pass. 
Her  brother's  ring  the  sleeping  lady  wore, 
Whose  hidden  virtues  were  described  before. 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  13 

False  Malagigi,  borne  on  fiendish  steed, 

Meantime  through  fields  of  air  in  silence  swept ; 
And  now,  dismounting  on  the  flow'ry  mead, 
Approached  the  weary  damsel  where  she  slept, 
By  that  grim  giant  watched,  who,  for  her  need, 
Good  guard  upon  the  sleeping  lady  kept, 
While  others  of  her  following  paced  the  sward, 
And  (such  their  charge)  kept  wider  watch  and 
ward. 

The  necromancer  smiles  at  seeing  the  whole 
party,  as  it  were,  delivered  over  into  his  hands, 
and  opens  his  books  for  the  purpose  of  be- 
ginning his  operations.  Whilst  he  reads,  a 
heavy  slumber  falls  upon  the  watchers;  and, 
having  drawn  his  sword,  (for  he  was  a  belted 
knight,)  he  approaches  the  princess  with  the 
intention  of  putting  her  to  death.  He  yields, 
however,  to  the  enchantment  of  beauty,  and 
determines  to  make  a  different  use  of  the  op- 
portunity. Not  aware  that  the  enchanted  ring 
was  on  her  finger,  which  she  had  accidentally 


14  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

received  from  Argalia,  he  conceives  he  has  ren- 
dered her  sleep  as  fast  as  that  of  her  followers, 
and  clasps  her  in  his  arms;  but  the  ring,  which 
is  proof  against  all  spells,  does  its  duty.  Ange- 
lica wakes  with  a  shriek,  and  Argalia  rushes  to 
her  assistance.  Being  unprovided  with  other 
weapon,  he  avenges  the  insult  offered  to  his 
sister  with  a  cudgel ;  but  as  he  is  bruising  the 
unfortunate  Malagigi,  Angelica  cries  to  him  to 
bind  the  ravisher  fast,  while  she  holds  him ;  as 
he  is  a  potent  necromancer,  who,  but  for  the 
assistance  of  the  ring,  would  laugh  at  chains. 
Argalia  runs  immediately  to  wake  the  giant,  but 
finding,  after  some  time,  that  this  was  a  fruitless 
attempt,  he  himself  binds  Malagigi,  hands  and 
feet.  The  damsel  this  while  possesses  herself  of 
the  magician's  book,  and  having  evoked  his 
fiends,  bids  them  convey  her  prisoner  instantly 
to  King  Galaphron,  and  inform  him  that  her 
project  goes  well,  since  she  has  mastered  the 
only  enemy  whom  she  had  reason  to  fear.  Ma- 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  15 

lagigi  is  confined  by  Galaphron,  in  a  dungeon 
under  the  sea.  In  the  mean  time,  Angelica 
dissolves  the  enchanted  sleep  of  her  followers. 

While  these  things  are  going  on,  all  is 
uproar  at  Paris,  since  Orlando  insists  upon 
being  the  first  to  try  the  adventure  at  the  stair 
of  Merlin.  This  is  resented  by  the  other  pre- 
tenders to  Angelica,  and  all  contest  his  right  to 
the  precedency.  The  tumult  is  stilled  by  the 
usual  expedient  of  casting  lots,  and  the  first 
prize  is  drawn  by  Astolpho.  Ferrau  has  the 
second,  and  the  giant  Grandonio  the  third. 
Next  to  these  came  Berlinghier  and  Otho,  then 
Charles  himself,  and  (as  his  ill  fortune  would 
have  it),  after  thirty  more,  the  indignant 
Orlando. 

The  character  of  the  holder  of  the  first  lot 
is  now  developed,  who  is  to  play  a  considerable 
part  in  the  romance. 


16  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

Astolpho,  who  the  winning  ticket  bore, 
Was  nimble,  and  with  youthful  beauty  blest ; 
And,  for  these  gentle  gifts,  was  prized  before 
Christian  or  Pagan  princes,  east  or  west ; 
With  that,  was  rich,  and  full  of  courteous  lore, 
And  always  loved  to  go  in  gilded  vest ! 
One  only  fault  the  prince's  pride  might  humble ; 
Sir  Turpin  tells  us  he  was  given  to  tumble. 

Astolpho  goes  forth  upon  his  adventure  with 
great  gaiety  of  dress  and  manner,  and  Argalia 
and  he  encounter,  after  having  with  much  cour- 
tesy renewed  the  engagements,  which  were 
before  specified  as  regulating  the  duel.  They 
engage;  when  Astolpho  is  immediately  tilted 
out  of  his  saddle.  His  rage  and  surprise  are 
excessive  ;  but  his  painful  feelings  receive  some 
relief  from  the  kindness  of  Angelica,  who, 
moved  to  compassion  for  his  misfortune,  and 
somewhat  touched  by  his  gallantry  and  grace, 
grants  him  the  liberty  of  the  pavilion;  where 
he  is  treated  with  every  sort  of  kindness  and 


BOOK!.  INVAMORATO.  17 

respect.  Here  he  is  assigned  a  magnificent 
bed ;  the  others  retreat  to  their  couches,  and 
thus  passes  the  night. 

The  sleepers  are  awakened  at  dawn  by  Fer- 
rau's  bugle,  who,  as  next  upon  the  list,  claims 
the  second  course.  Argalia  goes  forth  to  meet 
him,  clad  in  his  enchanted  arms,  and  mounted 
on  his  horse  Rabican,  who  is  described  as 
blacker  than  a  crow,  save  that  three  of  his  legs 
were  pie-balled,  and  that  his  forehead  was 
marked  with  a  star. 

Ferrau  undergoes  the  fate  of  Astolpho;  but 
when  unhorsed,  refuses  to  abide,  like  him,  the 
established  conditions,  and  springing  upon  his 
feet,  in  despite  of  the  protest  of  Argalia,  renews 
the  battle  with  his  sword.  Argalia's  giants 
now  rush  between  the  combatants,  and  attack 
him  ;  their  master,  however,  in  courtesy,  retires 
from  such  unequal  fray,  and  stands  apart  till 
his  giants  are  overthrown.  He  then  renews 
the  contest,  and  Astolpho,  who  had  been  waked 


18  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

by  the  disturbance,  in  vain  seeks  to  allay  it. 
Ferrau  says  that  he  is  no  vassal  of  Charles's, 
and  therefore  is  not  bound  by  any  pact  respect- 
ing the  duel,  which  he  may  have  made  with 
Angelica :  and  that  he  is  resolved  to  win  her 
and  wear  her.  In  answer  to  the  observation  of 
Argalia,  that  he  is  without  a  helmet,  which  had 
been  beat  off  and  broken  by  the  golden  lance, 
he  observes,  that  without  one,  he  is  a  fair  match 
for  his  opposite. 

This  dispute  had  been  carried  on  by  the 
combatants  on  foot,  but  they  now  remount  in 
order  to  decide  it  on  horseback,  when  Argalia 
in  his  fury  forgets  his  lance,  which  he  has  left 
leaning  against  a  pine.  Many  blows  had  been 
given  and  taken  without  effect,  when  the  two 
knights  paused  in  mutual  astonishment,  and 
Argalia  informed  Ferrau  that  his  efforts  were 
fruitless,  as  his  armour  was  enchanted ;  a 
communication  which  Ferrau  repaid  by  ob- 
serving that  his  skin  was  invulnerable  with  the 


BOOK    I.  INNAMORATO.  19 

exception  of  one  side.  The  recital  of  these 
gifts,  which  produces  a  sort  of  reciprocal  re- 
spect, leads  them  to  a  further  parley ;  in  which 
Argalia  agrees  to  give  Ferrau  Angelica  to 
wife,  provided  she  consents  to  the  arrange- 
ment. But  Angelica,  who  is  startled  by 
Ferrau's  ugliness  and  fierceness,  and  more  es- 
pecially by  his  ill-shaped  head  and  black  hair, 
her  favour  being  especially  set  upon  a  light- 
haired  lover,  entreats  her  brother,  rather  than 
sacrifice  her  to  such  a  man,  to  renew  his  battle 
which  had  been  suspended,  while  she  transports 
herself  by  magic  to  Catay ;  she  then  observes 
he  may  watch  his  opportunity,  to  escape  and 
follow  her  to  the  wood  of  Arden,  where  she 
will  wait  his  arrival. 

He,  in  consequence,  communicates  to  Ferrau 
the  refusal  of  his  sister.  The  battle  is  renewed ; 
and  upon  its  renewal,  Angelica  disappears.  She 
is  soon  followed  by  Argalia,  who  turns  his  back 
upon  his  adversary.  Ferrau  pursues,  but  sees 
c  2 


20  '1'HE    ORLANDO  BOOK    I. 

no  traces  either  of  the  damsel  or  the  knight. 
In  the  meantime  Astolpho,  who  finds  himself  at 
liberty,  puts  on  his  armour,  and  his  own  lance 
having  been  splintered  in  the  joust,  takes,  un- 
conscious of  its  virtues,  that  of  Argalia,  which 
was  left  leaning  against  the  pine.  Returning 
home,  he  meets  Rinaldo,  who  had  wandered 
out  to  the  wood,  to  learn  the  fortune  of  Ferrau. 
He,  too,  hearing  of  the  disappearance  of  Ange- 
lica, gallops  away  in  pursuit,  while  Astolpho 
continues  his  road  to  Paris. 

Here  Orlando  seeks  him,  and  learns  all  that 
has  passed.  Distracted  with  the  news,  and, 
above  all,  jealous  of  Rinaldo,  he  too,  waits,  only 
till  evening  to  join  in  the  pursuit;  when  he 
makes  his  secret  sally,  and  rides  towards  the  wood 
of  Arden.  Thus,  three  champions,  to  wit,  Fer- 
rau, Rinaldo,  and  Orlando  are  entered  in  the 
chase. 

This,  while  Charlemagne  is  proceeding  in  his 
preparations   for  the  tournament,  the  prize  of 


BOOK    I.  IXNAMOIIATO.  21 

which  was  to  be  the  Crown  of  Roses.  Many  fair 
feats  had  already  been  wrought,  and  the  knights 
are  in  the  heat  of  the  jousts,  when  Astolpho 
pricks  forth  into  the  medley  *  ;  but  his  courser 
falls  writh  him  and  dislocates  his  foot.  All  regret 

O 

this  accident  of  the  English  prince,  who  is 
carried  to  his  palace  where  his  foot  is  set.  The 
jousts  are  continued  by  the  others,  from  whom 
Grandonio  the  giant  bears-  away  the  honours  of 
the  field,  wounding  and  unhorsing  knights  on 
all  sides.  In  the  meantime, 

Astolpho  was  return'd  into  the  square, 
His  single  faulchion  to  his  girdle  tied, 
And  rode  in  gallant  guise  an  ambling  mare, 
Unarm'd  and  weaponless  in  all  beside : 
And  laugh'd  and  loiter'd  with  the  ladies  there, 
And  jested  with  the  circle  far  and  wide  : 
While  he  thus  idly  chatted,  Gryphon  fell, 
Thrust  by  Grandonio  from  his  lofty  sell. 
*  Mischia,  me!6e. 

C   3 


22  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK    1. 

All  who  contend  with  Grandonio  suffer  the 
same  destiny  ;  while  the  outrageous  Pagan  over- 
whelms Charles  and  his  paladins  with  invec- 
tive. On  the  other  hand,  Charles  vents  threats 
and  imprecations  upon  the  absent  Orlando, 
Rinaldo,  and  Gano,  expressing  at  the  same  time 
his  earnest  desire  to  be  revenged  upon  the 
Saracens. 

Astolpho,  hearing  this,  retreats,  unobserved, 
to  his  palace,  arms  himself  at  all  points  and  re- 
appears amongst  the  combatants;  not,  as  the 
author  observes,  that  he  expects  to  do  himself 
much  honour ;  in  which  opinion  he  seems  to  have 
agreed  with  the  multitude  who  hailed  his  en- 
trance with  smiles  and  whispers,  but  with  the 
intention  of  doing  his  duty  to  his  lord,  and  leav- 
ing the  event  to  Heaven.  Accordingly 


BOOK    I.  INNAMOKATO.  23 


Firm  on  his  prancing  steed,  he  louted  low 

In  graceful  act,  and  "  Know,  Sir  King,"  he  cried, 

"  I  come  to  venge  thee  of  thy  Pagan  foe, 

"  Knowing  that  thou  such  wish  hast  signified." 
As  one  whose  mood  was  still  fastidious ;  "  Go, 

"  Go  in  the  name  of  God  ;"  King  Charles  replied  : 
Then,  turning  to  the  lords  that  hemm'd  his  seat ; 

"  There    lack'd    but    this    to    make   our   shame 
complete." 

Astolpho,  thus  dismissed,  pours  a  volley  of 
abuse  upon  Grandonio,  and  tilts  at  him  in  fury. 
The  golden  lance  works  an  unexpected  miracle, 
and  the  giant  tumbles  like  a  tower  that  is  un- 
dermined. King  Charlemagne  and  all  are  in 
amazement,  while  Astolpho,  though  no  less 
surprized  at  his  own  prowess,  pursues  his 
fortune,  and  clears  the  field.  These  events 
were  immediately  recounted  to  Gan,  who  was 
in  his  own  house,  and  who,  having  armed 
c  4- 


24  TJIE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

a  party  of  his  kinsmen  and  retainers,  comes 
before  the  king,  and  alleges  some  frivolous 
pretext  for  his  tardy  appearance ;  which,  whe- 
ther believed  or  not,  is  accepted  by  the  sove- 
reign. He  now  sends  a  message  to  Astolpho, 
proposing  to  close  the  tournament,  as  the  pay- 
nims  are  defeated.  To  which  the  English 
prince  replies,  '  that  he  considers  him  every 
whit  as  false  a  Pagan  as  the  others,'  and  imme- 
diately attacks  him  with  his  lance.  Gan,  Pina- 
bello  and  all  their  household  are  unhorsed;  but 
while  Astolpho  is  in  full  career,  a  traitor  as- 
sails him  from  behind,  and  bears  him  to  the 
ground.  He  rises  in  fury,  tilts  at  friends  and 
foes,  and  outrages  all,  king  Charlemagne  among 
the  rest ;  by  whose  order  he  is  at  last  surrounded, 
mastered,  and  carried  off  to  prison. 

He  was  here  ill  bested,  yet  not  so  ill,  says  the 
author,  as  the  other  three,  who  suffered  the 
pains  of  love  for  Angelica.  These  all  arrived 
by  different  roads,  and  at  different  times  in  the 


BOOK  I.  INN  AMOR  ATO.  25 

wood  of  Arden.  The  first  comer  was  Rinaldo ; 
who,  penetrating  into  the  forest,  beheld  a  beau- 
tiful fountain  in  the  shade. 

The  alabaster  vase  was  wrought  with  gold, 

And  the  white  ground  o'erlaid  with  curious  care  ; 
While  he  who  look'd  within  it,  might  behold 
Green  grove,  and  flowers,  and  meadow,  pictur'd 

there. 

Wise  Merlin  made  it,  it  is  said,  of  old, 
For  Tristan  when  he  sigh'd  for  Yseult  fair  : 
That  drinking  of  its  wave,  he  might  forego 
The  peerless  damsel,  and  forget  his  woe. 

But  he  to  his  misfortune  never  found 

That  fountain,  built  beneath  the  green- wood  tree ; 
Altho'  the  warrior  pac'd  a  weary  round. 
Encompassing  the  world  by  land  and  sea. 
The  waves  which  in  the  magic  bason  bound, 
Make  him  unlove  who  loves.     Nor  only  he 
Foregoes  his  former  love  ;  but  that,  which  late 
Was  his  chief  pride  and  pleasure,  has  in  hate. 


26  THE    ORLANDO  J5OOK  I. 


Mount    Alban's    lord,  whose  strength    and  spirits 

sink, 

For  yet  the  sun  was  high  and  passing  hot, 
Stood  gazing  on  the  pearly  fountain's  brink, 
Rapt  with  the  sight  of  that  delicious  spot. 
At  length  he  can  no  more  ;  but  stoops  to  drink, 
And  thirst  and  love  are  in  the  draught  forgot : 
For  such  the  virtue  those  cold  streams  impart, 
Changed  in  an  instant  is  the  warrior's  heart. 


Him,  with  that  forest's  wonders  unacquainted, 
Some  paces  to  a  second  water  bring, 
Of  chrystal  wave  with  rain  or  soil  untainted. 
With   all  the  flowers  that  wreathe  the  brows  of 

spring 

Kind  nature  had  the  verdant  margin  painted : 
And  there  a  pine  and  beech  and  olive  fling 
Their  boughs  above  the  stream,  and  form  a  bower, 
A  grateful  shelter  from  the  noontide  hour. 


BOOK  I.  INNAAIORATO,  2? 


This  was  the  stream  of  love,  upon  whose  shore 
He    chanced,   where  Merlin  no  enchantments 

shed; 

But  nature  here,  unchanged  by  magic  lore, 
The  fountain  with  such  sovereign  virtue  fed, 
That  all  who  tasted  loved :  whence  many,  sore 
Lamenting  their  mistake,  were  ill-bested. 
Rinaldo  wandered  to  this  water's  brink, 
But,  sated,  had  no  further  wish  to  drink. 


Yet  the  delicious  trees  and  banks  produce 
Desire  to  try  the  grateful  shade  ;  and  needing 
Repose,  he  'lights,  and  turns  his  courser  loose, 
Who  roam'd  the  forest,  at  his  pleasure  feeding ; 
And  there  Rinaldo  cast  him  down,  at  truce 
With  care  ;  and  slumber  to  repose  succeeding, 
Thus  slept  supine :  when  spiteful  fortune  brought 
Her*  to  the  spot  whom  least  the  warrior  sought. 

*   Angelica. 


28  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK.  I. 

She  thirsts,  and  lightly  leaping  from  her  steed, 
Ties  the  gay  palfrey  to  the  lofty  pine  ; 
Then  plucking  from  the  stream  a  little  reed, 
Sips,  as  a  man  might  savour  muscat  wine  ; 
And  feels  while  yet  she  drinks  (such  marvel  breed 
The  waters  fraught  with  properties  divine) 
She  is  no  longer  what  she  was  before ; 
And  next  beholds  the  sleeper  on  the  shore. 

Enamoured  of  the  slumbering  knight,  she 
hesitates  long  between  love  and  shame,  but,  at 
length,  no  longer  mistress  of  herself,  pulls  a 
handful  of  flowers,  and  flings  them  in  his  face. 
The  gallantry  is  lost  upon  Rinaldo  ;  who  wakes, 
and  flies  from  her  with  loathing.  She  pursues, 
and  entreats  his  compassion  in  vain ;  and,  at 
length,  wearied  with  the  chace,  sinks  down  upon 
the  turf,  and  weeps  herself  asleep.  Ferrau 
now  arrives  in  the  forest,  in  the  hope  of 
finding  Angelica,  or  wreaking  his  vengeance 
upon  her  brother.  Occupied  with  these 


DOOK  I.  1NNAMORATO.  29 

thoughts  he  lights  upon  Argalia ;  who,  having 
followed  his  sister,  had  dismounted,  and  was 
also  sleeping  under  a  tree.  Ferrau  unties 
the  sleeper's  horse,  and  drives  him  into  the 
thicket.  His  adversary's  means  of  escape  thus 
intercepted,  he  watches  till  the  sleeping  man 
should  wake ;  nor  is  his  patience  put  to  a  long 
trial.  Argalia  soon  opens  his  eyes,  and  is  in 
great  distress  at  finding  his  horse  gone;  but 
Ferrau,  who  is  as  quickly  on  his  feet,  tells  him 
not  to  think  of  his  loss ;  as  one  of  them  must 
not  quit  the  place  alive,  and  his  own  horse  will 
remain  the  prize  of  the  survivor. 

The  two  warriors  now  again  engage  in  battle, 
and  closing,  Ferrau,  through  a  chink  in  his 
armour,  strikes  Argalia  to  the  heart.  Argalia 
sinks  beneath  the  blow,  and  dying  entreats  his 
adversary  to  have  regard  to  his  honor,  and  cast 
him  and  his  armour  into  the  river;  that  his 
memory  may  not  be  disgraced  by  the  knowledge 
of  his  having  been  vanquished  in  enchanted 
arms.  Ferrau,  who  compassionates  his  fate, 


30  THE    ORLANDO  1JOOK   I. 

promises  compliance,  with  the  reservation  of 
wearing  his  helmet  till  he  can  provide  himself 
with  another.  Argalia  consents  by  a  sign,  and 
soon  after  expires. 

Ferrau,  who  had  waited  by  him  till  he  drew 
his  last  sigh,  now  puts  on  the  helmet,  which  he 
had  previously  taken  from  his  wounded  adver- 
sary's head  in  order  to  give  him  air ;  and  having 
razed  off  the  crest,  places  it  upon  his  own.  He 
then,  with  the  dead  body  under  his  arm,  having 
remounted  his  horse,  proceeds  sadly  towards 
the  neighbouring  river,  into  which  he  casts 
Argalia,  all  armed  as  he  was,  conformably  to 
his  dying  request.  He  then  pursues  his  melan- 
choly way  through  the  wood. 

This  while  Orlando  had  arrived  on  this  theatre 
of  adventures,  and  comes  suddenly  upon  Ange- 
lica, who  is  described  as  sleeping  in  act  so  ex- 
quisitely graceful,  that  he  gazes  on  the  vision 
hi  stupid  wonderment,  and,  at  last,  to  contem- 
plate her  more  closely,  throws  himself  down  by 
her  side. 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  31 

Ferrau  arrives  at  this  juncture,  and  suppos- 
ing Orlando,  whom  he  had  not  recognized,  to 
be  Angelica's  guard,  insults  and  defies  him. 
The  paladin  starts  up  and  declares  himself; 
when  Ferrau,  though  somewhat  surprized, 
making  a  virtue  of  necessity,  stands  to  his  arms. 
A  desperate  duel  follows  :  during  this  Angelica 
wakes  and  flies  :  Orlando  proposes  a  truce  to 
his  adversary,  that  he  may  follow  her ;  but 
Ferrau,  whose  courage  was  now  up,  tells  him 
she  shall  be  the  prize  of  the  conqueror,  and  re- 
fuses. The  battle  is  therefore  renewed  with 
more  fury  than  before.  The  author  here  ex- 
claims :  — 

Gifted  with  odd  half  lights,  I  often  wonder 
How  I  should  think  of  love  ;  if  well  or  ill. 
For  whether  'tis  a  thing  above,  or  under 
The  rule  of  reason,  foils  my  little  skill; 
If  we  go  guided  by  some  god,  or  blunder 
Into  the  snare,  which  warps  our  better  will ; 
If  we  by  line  and  rule  our  actions  measure, 
And  'tis  a  thing  we  take  or  leave  at  pleasure. 


32  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

When  we  behold  two  bulls  each  other  tear, 
A  cow  the  cause  of  strife,  with  mutual  wound, 
It  looks  as  if  such  foolish  fury  were 
In  nature  and  controlling  instinct  found : 
But  when  we  see  that  absence,  prudence,  care 
And  occupation,  can  preserve  us  sound 
From  such  a  charm,  or,  if  you  will,  infection  ; 
Love  seems  to  be  the  fruit  of  pure  election. 

Of  this  so  many  men  have  sung  and  told, 
In  Hebrew,  Latin,  and  in  heathen  Greek, 
In  Egypt,  Athens,  and  in  Rome,  of  old, 
Who  govern'd  by  such  different  judgments  speak, 
That  I  can  ill  decide  with  whom  to  hold, 
And  cannot  waste  my  time  the  truth  to  seek. 
Let  it  suffice,  that  Love's  a  wayward  god : 
And  so  heav'n  keep  us  from  the  tyrant's  rod ! 

The  truth  of  these  reflections  the  author 
considers  as  strikingly  exemplified  by  the 
combat  between  the  champions,  which  is 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  33 

interrupted  by  the  appearance  of  a  strange 
damsel  upon  a  panting  palfrey,  who  clamours 
eagerly  for  Ferrau.  She,  perceiving  him, 
entreats  Orlando  to  forbear  his  blows ;  which 
he  immediately  does  upon  the  damsel's 
request.  Addressing  herself  to  the  paynim, 
she  informs  him  that  she  is  his  relation 
Flordespina,  and  dispatched  in  search  of  him, 
to  say  that  Gradasso  king  of  Sericane,  a 
fiend  incarnate,  has  invaded  the  Spanish  do- 
minions; that  king  Falsiron  is  taken,  Valencia 
ravaged,  Arragon  destroyed,  and  Barcelona 
besieged ;  that  poor  Marsilius  is  broken  down 
by  so  many  calamities,  and  that  his  last  hopes 
rest  on  him,  in  pursuit  of  whom  she  was  wan- 
dering. Ferrau  balances  for  a  moment  between 
love  and  duty,  but  at  length  determines  to 
suspend  his  combat,  with  the  permission  of 
Orlando,  who  agrees  to  the  proposal,  and  who 
himself  follows  Angelica.  Ferrau,  on  the  other 
hand,  departs  with  Flordespina  for  Spain.  The 


34-  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

author  here  leaves  each  to  pursue  his  separate 
quest,  and  returns  to  Charles.  This  monarch 
calls  a  council  in  consequence  of  intelligence 
received,  which  was  similar  to  that  brought  by 
Flordespina  to  Ferrau.  He  observes  in  this 
council,  that  Marsilius  is  his  neighbour  and 
relation,  and  is  yet  more  entitled  to  succour 
from  a  consideration  of  common  danger;  and  in 
consequence,  with  the  consent  of  his  peers, 
dispatches  Rinaldo  with  a  great  charge  of  men 
at  arms  against  Gradasso,  who  had  crossed  the 
streights  of  Gibraltar  into  Spain.  He  at  the 
same  time  constitutes  Rinaldo  lieutenant  of  his 
southern  provinces,  who  departs  for  the  seat  of 
war ;  and  all  the  knights  present  at  the  tour- 
nament assemble  under  his  banner.  His 
coming,  as  well  as  that  of  Ferrau,  (now  arrived) 
is  highly  gratifying  to  Marsilius,  who  had  shel- 
tered himself  in  Gerona.  The  greatest  part  of 
Spain  (as  stated)  had  been  already  sacked,  and 
all  the  Spanish  warriors  (with  the  exception  of 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  35 

Ferrau)  who  had  returned  to  the  defence  of 
their  country,  were  killed,  or  prisoners.  Even 
the  giant-king,  Grandonio,  who  we  lately  saw 
braving  Charlemagne  and  all  his  peerage,  had 
sought  refuge  in  Barcelona.  Marsilius,  on  the 
arrival  of  the  French  succours,  now  marches  to 
his  relief.  The  banners  of  the  allied  army  are 
no  sooner  distinguished  by  Gradasso,  where  he 
lay  camped,  and  served  by  giant-kings,  than  he 
issues  extravagant  orders  to  his  various  vassals. 
Four  of  these  he  dispatches  with  their  followers 
against  Barcelona,  with  orders  not  leave  a  soul 
alive  in  that  city,  with  the  exception  of  Gran- 
donio, whom  he  wishes  (as  he  says)  to  take  alive, 
that  he  may  bait  him  with  his  dogs.  Others 
are  sent  forth,  with  orders  to  take  or  destroy 
the  most  distinguished  amongst  the  captains  of 
the  confederates.  This  last  command  is  given 
to  Faraldo,  king  of  Arabia,  who  is  enjoined  to 
bring  him  Rinaldo  and  the  banner  of  Charle- 
D  2 


36  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

magne,  which,  it  seems,  was    also  one  of  the 
principal  objects  of  his  expedition. 

The  battle  now  rages  in  the  field,  and  within 
the  city  of  Barcelona,  in  which  the  army  of 
Gradasso  had  previously  made  lodgements. 
While  the  warfare  within  the  town  is  still 
doubtful,  the  bands  dispatched  against  the 
confederates  under  Rinaldo,  are,  after  a  long 
contest,  defeated;  and  one  of  the  surviving  giant- 
kings  reports  their  discomfiture  to  Gradasso, 
who  immediately  arms  and  goes  forth  against 
the  conquerors.  His  first  object  of  attack  is 
Rinaldo ;  but  Bayardo,  startled  by  the  appear- 
ance of  the  Alfana,  a  monstrous  mare,  on  which 
Gradasso  rode,  made  a  leap  of  twenty  feet  into 
the  air,  and  thus  evaded  the  charge.  Gradasso, 
though  somewhat  surprized,  gallops  on,  and 
unhorses  many  of  the  best  amongst  the  confede- 
rates, who  are  immediately  taken  and  bound  by 
Alfrera,  one  of  his  giant-kings,  who  serves  him 
as  a  lacquey. 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  37 

Rinaldo  now  wheels  Bayardo  round,  and 
spurs  him  at  Gradasso ;  and  both  charge  with 
such  fury,  that  the  Alfana  and  Bayardo  crum- 
ble under  their  riders,  who,  however,  preserve 
then"  seats.  Gradasso,  who  first  recollects 
himself,  gives  immediate  orders  to  Alfrera, 
who  was  following  him  upon  a  camelopard,  to 
secure  Rinaldo  and  his  horse;  and  according 
to  his  practice,  himself  follows  up  the  pursuit 
of  the  confederates. 

Alfrera  has,,  however,  a  more  difficult  task 
assigned  him  than  Gradasso  had  imagined; 
for  Bayardo,  having  regained  his  feet,  bears 
away  his  rider,  who  was  not  yet  himself.  The 
paladin,  however,  waking  from  his  short  stupor, 
rides  again  hi  chase  of  Gradasso,  himself  pur- 
sued in  vain  by  the  giant  Alfrera. 

Rinaldo  charges  Gradasso  just  as  he  has  un- 
horsed his  brother  Alardo,  and  discharges  a 
furious  stroke  upon  his  head.  Gradasso  repays 
the  greeting  in  a  way  that  would  have  ended 
D  3 


38  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

the  strife,  but  for  Mambrino's  helmet,  which 
saved  the  knight  from  any  worse  evil  than  a 
concussion  of  the  brain ;  while  Bayardo  again 
galloped  away  with  him  in  a  state  of  half  stupe- 
faction. Recovering  himself  a  second  time, 
and  full  of  shame  and  fury,  he  returns  to  seek 
Gradasso,  and  the  combat  is  renewed  with  more 
equality  than  was  promised  by  its  commence- 
ment; Rinaldo,  counterbalancing  the  strength 
of  his  opposite,  by  his  own  superior  dexterity, 
and  the  quickness  and  docility  of  Bayardo. 
The  combatants  are,  however,  separated,  and 
borne  asunder  by  the  tide  of  battle.  After  dif- 
ferent adventures,  they  yet  again  meet,  when 
Gradasso  observing  that  Rinaldo  is  surrounded 
by  the  troops  of  Sericane,  courteously  proposes 
that  their  duel  should  be  deferred  till  the  suc- 
ceeding day,  to  be  fought  under  the  following 
conditions,  by  both  combatants  on  foot :  "  If 
Rinaldo  conquers,  he  is  to  have  back  all  the 
prisoners  made  by  Gradasso ;  and  if  Gradasso 


BOOK  I.  IXNAMORATO.  39 

wins  the  day,  he  is  to  have  Bayardo  for  his 
prize ;  but  is  in  either  case  to  return  home,  and 
never  more  set  foot  in  Europe."  Rinaldo  wil- 
lingly accedes  to  this,  and  a  place  is  fixed  on, 
near  the  sea,  for  the  combat,  to  which  both  are 
to  come,  with  no  other  than  defensive  armour 
and  their  swords.  But  the  author,  while  the 
barriers  are  preparing,  returns  to  Angelica, 
who,  being  returned  to  India,  determines  on 
setting  Malagigi  at  liberty,  and  making  him 
her  mediator  with  the  disdainful  knight.  She 
accordingly  frees  him  from  his  dungeon,  un- 
locks his  fetters  with  her  own  hand,  and  bids 
him  hi  return  to  unloosen  her  own.  She  then 
returns  him  his  book,  explains  herself  more 
precisely,  and  promises  him  final  liberty,  on 
condition  of  his  bringing  back  Rinaldo. 

Malagigi  calls  up  a  demon  with  the  aid  of 
his  book,  mounts  him  and  departs.     He  is  en- 
tertained, during  his  journey,  with  a  relation  of 
Gradasso's  enterprise,  by  the  devil;  who  told 
D  4 


4-0  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

him,  as  the  author  observes,  "  all  that  had 
chanced,  and  indeed  more,  which  was  so  much 
the  easier,  in  that  he  lied."  Malagigi  arrived 
at  his  destination,  finds  Rinaldo  rejoiced  to 
see  him,  but  immoveable  on  the  subject  of 
Angelica;  and  hence,  after  many  fruitless  en- 
deavours, vanishes  with  a  threat.  Having 
reached  a  spot  convenient  for  his  incantations, 
he  opens  his  book,  calls  up  a  legion  of  demons, 
and  from  these,  selects  Draghinazzo  and  Fal- 
setta.  The  latter  is -bid  to  take  the  appearance 
of  one  of  king  Marsilius's  heralds,  the  coat  of 
arms  and  battoon ;  and  thus  equipped,  to  inform 
Gradasso  that  Rinaldo  expects  to  meet  him  at 
mid-day.  Gradasso  accepts  the  invitation,  and 
gifts  the  false  herald  with  a  cup. 

The  same  devil,  again  transformed,  comes 
now  to  Rinaldo,  as  if  from  Gradasso,  but  with 
a  very  different  appearance.  He  has  a  turban 
on  his  head,  wears  a  flowing  robe,  and  has  rings 
in  his  ears,  instead  of  on  his  fingers.  His 


BOOK  I.  1NNAMORATO.  41 

object  is  to  remind  Rinaldo,  on  the  part  of 
Gradasso,  to  meet  him  in  the  morning,  which 
had  been  the  time  previously  stipulated.  Thus 
each,  on  the  supposed  invitation  of  the  other, 
prepares  for  a  different  appointment.  —  Rinaldo 
necessarily  is  first  at  the  place,  but  sees  nothing 
but  a 

Small  pinnace  anchor'd  by  the  shore. 

He,  however,  immediately  after,  descries  a  figure 
on  the  beach,  in  the  garb  and  guise  of  Gra- 
dasso, but  which  was,  in  reality,  no  other  than 
one  of  the  fiends,  Draghinazzo,  evoked  by 
Malagigi,  and  thus  transmogrified.  The  com- 
bat immediately  begins;  and  Rinaldo,  after  some 
blows  given  and  taken,  making  a  desperate  two- 
handed  stroke  at  the  supposed  Gradasso,  buries 
his  sword  Fusberta  in  the  sand.  The  devil  avails 
himself  of  the  opportunity  to  escape,  flies  to  the 
boat,  and  is  putting  off.  Rinaldo,  however, 


42  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

follows  him  into  his  barque,  and  deals  a  blow 
at  him,  but  the  demon  leaps  from  prow  to 
poop : 

Rinaldo  chas'd  him  back  from  poop  to  prow, 
The  sword  Fusberta  flaming  in  his  hand ; 
But  he  from  side  to  side,  from  stern  to  bow, 
Flits,  while  the  barque  is  drifting  from  the  land. 
Rinaldo  marks  it  not ;  who  thought  but  how 
To  reach  the  foe  with  his  avenging  brand ; 
Nor  from  his  long  day-dream  of  vengeance  woke, 
Till  the  false  fiend  was  melted  into  smoke. 

Yet  the  paladin  will  not  give  over  his  hopes  of 
finding  him,  and  renews  a  fruitless  search  above 
and  below.  In  the  meantime,  the  barque  is 
seven  miles  from  shore,  and  Rinaldo  observes, 
too  late,  that  she  is  scudding,  self-steered,  before 
the  wind. 

The  vessel  at  length  takes  the  ground  near 
a  beautiful  garden,  and  Rinaldo  lands  in  front 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  43 

of  a  palace,  worthy  of  its  grounds.  —  Here, 
says  the  author,  I  leave  him,  with  less  com- 
punction, as  he  is  in  good  quarters,  and  proceed 
in  pursuit  of  Orlando,  who,  having  wandered 
as  far  as  the  Tanais,  in  search  of  Angelica, 
meets  an  old  man  weeping  the  loss  of  his  son, 
who  had  been  taken  prisoner  by  a  giant.  The 
paladin  delivers  the  youth,  and  the  old  man,  in 
gratitude,  presents  him  with  a  book,  which  is 
capable  (he  says)  of  resolving  the  questions  of 
any  one  who  consults  it.  Instructed  by  this 
book,  he  seeks  a  sphynx,  who  appears  to  have 
been  a  yet  better  resolver  of  doubts,  hi  order 
to  obtain  information  of  the  dwelling-place  of 
Angelica.  The  monster  tells  him,  that  this  is  in 
Albracca  of  Catay.  In  the  meantime  the  sphinx 
has  her  question  for  the  interrogator,  which  it 
is  death  not  to  interpret;  and  plies  Orlando 
with  the  riddle,  solved  by  CEdipus.  Orlando, 
with  intent  to  cut  the  knot  which  he  cannot 
untie,  draws  Durindana,  attacks  the  monster 


44  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

sword  in  hand,  and  at  length  slays  and  tumbles 
her  from  the  rock  on  which  she  made  her 
abode.  He  has  now  leisure  to  look  in  his 
book  for  the  solution  of  the  sphynx's  enigma; 
and  finds  that  her  question  of  "  What  animal 
"  begins  his  career  upon  four  legs,  after  a  time 
"  continues  it  on  two,  and  ends  it  upon  three  ?" 
means  Man;  designating  thus  the  child  who 
crawls,  the  man  who  walks,  and  the  old  man 
who  supports  himself  with  a  stick.  Having 
cleared  up  this  point,  he  pursues  his  way  still 
poring  upon  the  book,  and  soon  arrives  at  a 
river  dark,  deep,  and  dangerous,  whose  pre- 
cipitous banks  afford  no  means  of  passage. 
Orlando  rides  along  the  shore  till  he  comes  to 
a  bridge,  where  he  dismounts.  This  is  kept 
by  a  giant,  who  tells  him  that  he  who  arrives 
at  that  bridge,  which  is  justly  named  the  Bridge 
of  Death,  has  little  while  to  live ;  for  that  all 
the  roads  which  lead  from  it  wind  back  to 
that  fatal  water,  into  which  either  he  or  Orlando 


BOOK   I.  INNAMORATO.  45 

must  soon  be  plunged  never  to  rise  again. 
Orlando,  however,  who  seems  little  impressed  by 
this  warning,  springs  upon  the  bridge,  and  attacks 
him.  A  desperate  combat  now  ensues,  but  with 
the  usual  issue.  The  giant  is  slain.  He,  how- 
ever, in  falling,  springs  a  clap-net  of  iron,  which 
closing  on  the  paladin,  beats  his  sword  out  of 
his  hand,  and  envelopes  him  in  its  folds. 

As  he  lies  helpless  in  this  trap,  a  friar  ar- 
rives, who,  after  vain  attempts  to  release  him, 
offers  him  spiritual  consolation,  which  is  ill 
received :  but  the  friar,  having  the  sinner  at  his 
mercy,  continues  to  inculcate  it ;  and  in  illus- 
tration of  the  powers  of  a  protecting  Providence 
informs  him  of  a  late  miraculous  escape  of  his 
own.  He  was  travelling  with  certain  of  his 
brothers,  when  they  were  surprised  by  a  hor- 
rible cyclops,  who  made  a  feast  on  one  of  his 
companions,  but  cast  him  from  a  rock,  as 
worthless  carrion ;  when  he  luckily  lighted 
amongst  the  branches  of  a  tree,  where  he  lay 


46  THE    ORLANDO  HOOK    1. 

concealed  till  evening,  and  then  effected  his 
escape.  He  is  yet  engaged  in  his  narration, 
when  he  breaks  off  with  a  scream  and  flies. 

His  sudden  terror  was  produced  by  the  sight 
of  the  very  Cyclops  of  whom  he  spoke,  who 
came  armed  with  a  club  and  three  darts. 
He,  however,  instead  of  pursuing  the  friar, 
stops  to  consider  Orlando.  He  then  takes  up 
Durindana,  which  lies  near,  and  hews  the 
chain-net  in  pieces,  without  injury  to  the 
count,  whose  skin  was  enchanted.  Orlando 
instantly  starts  up,  his  bones  aching  with  the 
blows,  which  had  not  been  able  to  penetrate  his 
flesh ;  and  seizing  the  giant's  club,  they,  having 
thus  exchanged  weapons,  engage  in  a  desperate 
and  equal  combat.  For  if  Orlando's  skin  was 
invulnerable,  the  giant's  armour,  which  was 
made  of  griffins'  claws,  was  equally  impene- 
trable. At  length  Orlando  bethinks  him  of 
the  three  shafts,  which  the  giant  had  laid  down, 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  4-7 

as  well  as  his  club,  when  he  possessed  himself 
of  Durindana. 

Seizing  these,  and  launching  one  of  them  at 
his  single  eye,  it  penetrates  his  brain  and 
stretches  him  dead.  At  this  juncture  the  friar, 
who  yet  trembles  with  fear  as  well  as  joy,  re- 
appears, and  entreats  Orlando  to  accompany 
him  towards  the  dead  cyclops*  den,  for  the 
purpose  of  liberating  his  companions. 

This  done,  Orlando  rides  on ;  when,  arriving 
at  a  place  where  many  roads  cross,  he  meets 
a  courier,  and  asking  him  news,  learns  that  he 
is  dispatched  by  Angelica,  to  solicit  the  aid  of 
Sacripant,  king  of  Circassia,  in  favour  of  her 
father,  Galaphron,  besieged  by  Agrican,  emperor 
of  Tartary,  in  Albracca.  This  Agrican  had 
been  an  unsuccessful  suitor  to  the  damsel,  whom 
he  now  pursues  with  arms.  Orlando,  who 
learns  that  he  is  within  a  day's  journey  of  Al- 
bracca, now  thinks  that  he  is  secure  of  Angelica, 
and  proceeds  with  rapture  towards  her  seat. 


48  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK   I. 

Thus  journeying,  he  arrives  at  a  bridge  which 
united  two  mountains,  and  under  which  ran  a 
foaming  river.  Here  a  damsel  meets  him  with 
a  goblet,  and  informs  him,  with  much  grace  of 
demeanor,  that  it  is  the  usage  of  the  bridge  to 
present  the  traveller  with  a  cup,  which  she 
offers  to  Orlando,  and  which  the  paladin,  in 
courtesy,  drains.  He  has,  however,  no  sooner 
swallowed  the  julep  which  sparkles  in  it,  than 
his  brain  dances,  and  he  is  no  longer  conscious 
of  the  object  of  his  journey,  or  even  of  his  own 
existence.  Under  the  influence  of  this  fasci- 
nation, he  follows  the  damsel  into  a  magnificent 
and  marvellous  palace. 

Here  the  author  leaves  the  count  to  return 
to  Gradasso,  who,  deceived  by  the  false  herald 
that  appointed  him  to  meet  Rinaldo  upon  the 
sea-shore  at  noon,  in  vain  expects  his  arrival. 
He  waits  there  till  night,  when  he  retires  full 
of  indignation  at  the  supposed  cowardice  of 
his  opponent.  In  the  meantime,  Ricciardetto 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  49 

(who  had  been  left  by  his  brother,  Rinaldo,  in 
charge  of  Charlemagne's  army),  on  the  paladin's 
departure  for  the  false  appointment  according 
to  the  instructions  he  had  received,  in  case  of 
his  not  returning  in  a  given  time,  withdraws 
Charles's  forces  from  Marsilius's  camp,  and 
returns  to  France. 

Gano  immediately  cries  out  upon  Rinaldo's 
treason,  and  all  is  dismay.  On  the  other  part, 
Marsilius,  thus  deserted,  has  no  means  of  safety, 
but  in  making  peace  with  Gradasso,  and  con- 
senting to  hold  Spain  as  his  liegeman.  In 
consequence  of  his  so  doing,  Gradasso,  strength- 
ened by  the  accession  of  Marsilius,  with  Gran- 
donio  and  his  other  vassal  kings,  marches  upon 
Paris.  Charlemagne,  with  all  his  peerage, 
sallies  to  encounter  him ;  but  his  army  ex- 
periences a  disastrous  rout,  and  he,  with  almost 
all  his  paladins,  is  captured;  while  Paris  is 
immediately  invested  by  the  invaders. 

Gradasso,  however,  does  not  abuse  his  vic- 
E 


50  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

tory :  he  takes  Charles  by  the  hand,  seats  him 
by  his  side,  and  tells  him  he  wars  only  for  ho- 
nour. Hence  he  renounces  all  conquests,  but 
insists  on  the  monarch  promising  him  Bayardo 
and  Durindana,  both  the  property  of  his  vassals, 
the  first  of  which,  as  he  maintained,  was  already 
forfeited  by  the  treason  of  Rinaldo.  To  this ; 
Charlemagne  and  his  peers  in  acknowledgment 
of  their  defeat,  were  to  remain  his  prisoners  for 
a  day :  Bayardo,  who  had  been  brought  back  by 
Ricciardetto,  was  to  be  forthwith  delivered  up, 
and  Durindana  consigned  to  Gradasso  in  Se- 
ricana,  upon  the  return  of  Orlando  to  France. 
To  these  terms  Charlemagne  readily  accedes, 
and  sends  for  the  horse  to  Paris. 

Here,  Astolpho  had  assumed  the  command, 
having  obtained  his  freedom  during  the  con- 
fusion, which  followed  upon  the  rout  of  Charle- 
magne's army,  and  asserted  an  authority  which, 
in  the  absence  of  the  other  peers,  there  was  no 
one  to  dispute. 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  51 

He  receives  with  great  indignation  the  mes- 
senger dispatched  for  Bayardo,  and  throws 
him  into  prison ;  answering  the  embassy  by 
a  herald,  who  says,  on  the  part  of  Astolpho, 
"  that  Charles  has  no  right  in  the  steed ;  but 
that  Gradasso  may  come  and  fight  for  him  ;  in 
which  case  he  will  meet  him  in  the  field." 

The  next  day  the  two  knights  encounter, 
having  previously  established  the  conditions  of 
their  combat.  The  enchanted  lance  performs  a 
new  wonder ;  and  Gradasso,  the  terrible  Gra- 
dasso, is  unhorsed. 

According  to  their  previous  agreement,  Gra- 
dasso is  to  give  up  his  prisoners,  and  return  to  his 
kingdom  of  Sericana.  Astolpho,  however,  begs 
him  not  to  spoil  a  jest  which  he  wishes  to  put  upon 
Charlemagne  and  his  paladins,  by  making  them 
believe  that  the  issue  of  the  duel  had  been  dif- 
ferent from  what  it  was,  and  that  they,  therefore, 
(in  consequence  of  the  first  proffer  of  Gradasso 
not  having  been  acceded  to,)  were  still  the  pri- 
E  2 


52  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

soners  of  that  sovereign.  When  Astolpho  has 
sufficiently  bantered  both  king,  count,  and  bishop 
(for  Turpin  was  amongst  the  captives,  and  one  of 
the  objects  of  his  raillery),  he  falls  upon  his 
knees,  begs  pardon  of  Charles  for  his  irrever- 
ence, and  observes,  that  as  he  is  ill  looked  upon 
in  his  court,  he  will  leave  the  field  to  Gano, 
and  set  out  on  the  morrow  in  search  of  his 
cousins  Orlando  and  Rinaldo.  Having  said 
this,  Charles  and  his  peers  are  freed,  and  Gano 
is  getting  into  his  saddle ;  when  he  is  brought 
back  by  Astolpho,  who  observes,  that  he  only 
gives  him  his  liberty,  (since  the  disposal  of  all  is 
at  his  option,)  on  condition  of  his  swearing  before 
Charles,  to  constitute  himself  his  prisoner  for 
four  days,  whenever  he  should  enjoin  it.  Charles 
undertakes  for  his  compliance  with  such  a  re- 
quisition, and  seeks  to  detain  Astolpho  with  the 
bribe  of  Ireland  ;  but  the  duke  is  inflexible,  and 
departs.  Gradasso  also  returns  into  Sericana. 

The  author   now  returns  to  Rinaldo,  who 
was  landed  by  the  self-piloted  boat  in  what  was, 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  53 

it  seems,  denominated  The  Joyous  Garden.  He  is 
scarcely  disembarked,  before  a  lady  appears,  who 
takes  him  by  the  hand,  and  conducts  him  into  a 
palace,  where  he  is  served  by  attendant  damsels, 
with  everjr  sort  of  luxury  and  magnificence.  At 
last,  the  chief  of  the  servants  tells  him,  that  all 
this  is  his  which  he  surveys,  being  the  pre- 
sent of  a  lady,  who,  to  have  his  love,  has  brought 
him  out  of  Spain.  While  Rinaldo  stands  lost 
in  astonishment,  the  name  of  Angelica,  who  is 
proclaimed  by  this  man  to  be  the  mistress  of 
the  palace,  breaks  the  charm,  and  he  flies  in 
fury  through  the  garden,  till,  arriving  at  the 
landing-place,  he  leaps  again  into  his  pinnace. 
The  bark,  however,  remains  immoveable,  and 
he  is  about  to  cast  himself  into  the  sea  in  de- 
spair, when  it  darts  from  the  shore  and  traverses 
the  waves. 

Arrived  on  the  banks  of  a  well-wooded 
country,  it  again  takes  the  land;  and  Rinaldo 
disembarking,  encounters  a  hoary  and  aged  man 


.r)i  TUK    ORLANDO  BOOK  1. 

upon  the  beach,  who  has  a  melancholy  story  for 
the  paladin,  of  a  ravisher  who  had  that  moment 
carried  away  his  daughter.  Pursuing  the*  thief) 
Rinaldo  falls  into  a  pit-fall,  and  is  carried  away 
prisoner  by  a  giant ;  who  bears  him  to  a  cas- 
tle, situate^  upon  a  promontory,  the  walls  of 
which  were  covered  with  maimed  bodies  and 
heads,  some  of  which  yet  quivered  with  the  re- 
mains of  life. 

The  giant,  entering  the  building,  casts  Ri- 
naldo down  before  an  old  woman  of  stern  and 
forbidding  appearance ;  who  thus  addresses 
him:  — 

"  Haply,  Sir  Knight,  thou  hast  not  heard  display 
"  Our  castle's  use,"  exclaims  the  beldame  old  ; 
"  In  the  short  time  thou  hast  to  live,  —  a  day 
"  Is  yet  thine  own,  —  the  story  shall  be  told : 
"  Then  listen  to  the  legend,  whilst  thou  may, 
"  And  I  the  melancholy  tale  unfold. 
"  Thou  in  that  space  may'st  hear  the  tale  of 

sorrow,       '  ,-. 
"  And  witness  to  its  truth  in  blood  to-morrow." 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  55 

She  pursues  her  story  *  thus :  "  Know,  Sir 
Stranger,  that  this  castle  was  formerly  held 
by  a 'rich  lord,  famous  for  his  magnificence  j° 
and  hospitality,  and  yet  more  so,  for  the  in- 
comparable beauty  of  the  lady  whom  he  had 
to  wife.  This  castellan  was  hight  Gryphon, 
his  castle  Altaripa,  and  Stella  was  the  name 
of  his  wife.  It  was  his  favourite  pleasure 
to  disport  himself  in  the  green-wood  near  the 
shore,  where  thou  arrived'st  this  morning,  and 
roving  one  day  through  this,  he  heard  the 
hunting-horn  of  a  stranger,  whom  he  invited 
to  his  castle.  The  guest  was  Marchino,  lord  of 
Aronda,  and  my  husband ;  who  was  so  smitten 

*  I  have  thought  it  the  duty  of  a  translator,  to  preserve  this 
story  j  but  I  would  say  to  my  readers,  in  the  Words  of 
Ariosto, — 

Lasciate  questo  canto,  che  senz'  esso 
„  -  •  Pub  star  1*  istoria,  e  non  sara  men*  chiara. 

Mettendolo  Turpino,  anch'  io  1*  ho  messo. 

Leave  out  tkit  canto  /  tince  the  tale  will  tell 
Without  it,  and  the  ttory  it  at  dear: 
Which,  totdby  Turpin,  I  relate  a»  welt.     . 


56  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

by  the  beauty  of  Stella,  that  he  could  not  rest 
till  he  had  made  her  his  own.     He,  however, 
dissembled    his    evil    intentions,    and    took    a 
friendly  leave  of  his    entertainer.       This  was 
only  to  return,  as  a  treacherous  enemy.     He, 
accordingly,  bearing  some  resemblance  to  Gry- 
phon, counterfeited  his  ensigns,  and  came  back 
with  a  party  of  his  retainers,  whom  he  concealed, 
as  well   as   those,   in  the  neighbouring  wood. 
He,  in  the  mean  time,  pursued  the  chace  un- 
armed.    Gryphon  again   sought  him  out,  and 
finding  him  apparently  distressed  by  the  loss  of 
a   hound,  joined  him  in  his  search.      He  was 
thus  decoyed  into  the  ambuscade,  and  assassi- 
nated.    Marchino,  having  disposed  of  his  rival, 
entered  Altaripa  under  the  disguise  of  Gry- 
phon's ensigns,  where  he  did  not  leave  a  soul 
alive,    with   the    exception   of    Stella.       She, 
while  preserved  by  the  conqueror,  brooded  in 
secret  over  schemes  of  vengeance,   and   after 
pondering  some  time,  determined  to  have  re- 


BOOK  I.  INXAMORATO.  57 

course  to  that  animal  whose  wrath  is  the  most 
intolerable,  namely,  the  wife  who  has  been 
once  loved,  and  after  slighted  for  another. 
This  was  no  other  than  myself,  and  the  cruel- 
ties which  I  perpetrated,  well  justified  her  ex- 
pectation. Two  children,  whom  I  had  by 
Marchino,  I  killed  and  quartered.  —  Think 
upon  this :  yet  know  that  I  still  triumph  in  the 
recollection  of  my  vengeance.  Their  heads 
only,  I  preserved:  the  remainder  I  cooked, 
and  served  up  to  the  wretched  father  for  his  /ti;*S-.^-7  ^ 
supper.  This  done,  I  departed  secretly  for  Tl~*  s/Zy  ,_ 

'./•>•-      1  *«    L-»_  — ^ 

the  court  of  the  king  of  Orgagna,  who  had 
long  been  a  wooer  to  me,  without  success. 
Him  I  stirred  up  to  vengeance  against  Mar- 
chino, and  brought  in  arms  against  his  newly- 
acquired  castle  of  Altaripa, 

While  I  was  gone  on  this  errand,  Stella,  with 
dishevelled  hair,  a  smile  upon  her  lips,  but 
bitterness  in  her  heart,  presented  herself  before 
the  murderer  of  her  husband,  with  the  heads  of 


58  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

his  two  children  in  a  charger,  arid  disclosed  to 
him  the  horrid  tragedy,  at  which  he  had  been 
an  unwitting  assistant.  The  traitor  hesitated 
for  a  moment,  as  if  suspended  between  the  de- 
sire of  lust  and  vengeance,  and  then  slew  the  lady, 
and  satiated  both ;  nay,  as  if  in  outrage  of  God 
and  man,  pursued  his  impious  loves  with  the 
body,  till  I  returned  with  the  king  of  Orgagna. 

After  a  desperate  resistance,  we  possessed 
ourselves  of  Altaripa,  and  Marchino,  having 
been  made  prisoner,  perished  in  such  tortures 
as  he  had  deserved. 

The  king  of  Orgagna  now  departed,  leaving 
me  mistress  of  the  conquered  castle,  with  three 
giants  for  my  defence,  having  first  buried  the 
unfortunate  Stella,  together  with  the  body  of 
Gryphon,  which  had  been  left  exposed  and  sub- 
jected to  outrage  by  the  barbarous  Marchino. 

More  than  eight  months  had  now  passed 
when  a  horrid  cry  was  heard  from  the  mar- 
ble sepulchre,  in  which  Gryphon  and  Stella 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  59 

were  laid,  uud  we  fled  in  dismay  from  the 
sound.  Only  one  of  my  giants,  more  daring 
than  his  fellows,  approached  the  tomb,  and 
lifted  the  lid ;  when  a  monster  thrust  forth  its 
claw,  and  having  dragged  him  into  the  grave, 
devoured  him  alive.  We  immediately  walled 
up  the  space  about  the  monument,  as  a  pro- 
tection against  its  attacks,  and  the  monster, 
having  made  its  way  out  of  the  sepulchre, 
remains  thus  enclosed  between  the  defences 
which  we  have  constructed.  But  such  is  his 
rage  and  craving  for  human  flesh,  that  we 
supply  him  with  this,  lest  he  should  tear 
down  the  wall  in  his  fury.  Hence  the  usage  of 
this  castle ;  which  is  to  seize  on  all  strangers, 
in  order  to  provide  him  with  food.  The 
.quarters  which  you  see  exposed  on  the  walls, 
are  the  leavings  of  the  beast:  for  though  the 
custom  sprung  out  of  necessity,  my  heart  is 
become  hardened  with  cruelty,  and  I  now  live 
for  no  other  pleasure.'1  ifr  .7."' 


60  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

Rinaldp  hears  the  hag  with  stern  composure, 
and  desires  no  other  favour  than  that  of  being 
exposed  to  the  monster,  clad  in  armour,  as  he 
is,  and  with  Fusberta  in  his  hand.  This  the 
beldam  grants,  with  a  bitter  smile  of  mockery, 
and  the  night  closes  upon  him  in  his  dungeon. 

The  succeeding  morning,  he  is  lowered  down 
from  the  wall  into  the  space  tenanted  by  the  beast, 
the  horrible  fruit  of  Marchino's  intercourse  with 
the  body  of  Stella.  A  desperate  combat  now 
ensues,  Rinaldo  being  unable  to  make  any  im- 
pression on  the  scales  of  the  monster :  while 
he,  on  the  contrary,  shears  away  plate  and 
mail  from  the  paladin.  While  he  is  engaged 
in  this  hopeless  struggle,  the  beast  seizes  Fus- 
berta with  his  teeth,  and  disarms  Rinaldo,  who 
is  left  without  defence. 

The  author  here  leaves  him,  as  he  says,  to 
speak  of  a  spirit  hardly  less  afflicted,  though  in 
another  manner :  he  means  Angelica;  who  ex- 
pects in  trembling,  the  effect  of  Malagigi's 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  61 

attempt  He  arrives,  and  states  his  failure, 
but  would  comfort  the  damsel  with  the  thoughts 
of  vengeance;  relating  to  what  a  perilous  pass 
he  had  brought  the  miserable  Rinaldo;  for 
it  was  by  his  stratagem  that  he  was  conveyed 
to  Altaripa.  She,  however,  is  in  despair  at  his 
danger,  and  overwhelms  Malagigi  with  re- 
poaches.  He  tells  her,  it  is  not  yet  too  late 
to  save  him,  and  furnishes  her  with  the  means. 
These  are  a  rope,  with  a  noose  at  the  distance 
of  every  palm,  a  cake  of  wax,  and  a  file.  Fur- 
nished with  these  implements,  and  instructed  by 
Malagigi  in  the  use  of  them,  Angelica  fliesr" 
through  the  air  to  the  succour  of  Rinaldo. 

The  miserable  paladin  had,  in  the  mean 
time,  sprang  upon  a  beam,  which  projected 
from  the  wall,  and  thus  remained  hanging 
between  heaven  and  earth,  with  little  hope 
even  of  present  safety ;  since  the  monster  con- 
tinually leapt  at  him,  and,  often,  all  but 


62  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

reached  him  with  his  claws.  It  was  now  even- 
ing, when  Rinaldo  was  surprised  by  the  shadow 
of  a  woman,  and  soon  after  by  the  sight  of 
Angelica,  kneeling  before  him,  self-suspended 
in  air.  She  reproaches  herself  for  having 
brought  him  into  this  peril,  and  opening  her 
arms,  entreats  him  to  take  refuge  in  them,  and 
escape.  Such,  however,  are  the  effects  of  the 
fountain  of  hate,  that  Rinaldo  spurns  at  the 
proposal,  and  vows  if  she  does  not  immediately 
depart,  he  will  cast  himself  down  from  the 
beam.  After  long  and  fruitless  efforts  to  move 
him,  she  at  length  descends,  throws  her  cake 
of  wax  to  the  monster,  and  immediately  flings 
her  rope,  knotted  with  nooses,  before  him. 
The  beast,  who  takes  the  bait,  finding  his 
teeth  glued  together  by  the  wax,  vents  his  fury 
hi  bounds,  and  leaping  into  one  of  the  snares 
is  noosed  by  Angelica,  who  leaves  him  thus 
entangled,  and  departs. 


BOOK  I.  INN  AMOR  ATO.  63 

Though  the  monster  is  delivered  over  to 
him  gagged  and  bound,  so  invulnerable  is 
his  hide,  that  Rinaldo  makes  long  and 
fruitless  efforts  to  destroy  him ;  till,  at  length, 
leaping  upon  his  neck,  he  squeezes  his  eyes 
out  of  their  sockets ;  and  the  beast  expires 
under  the  gripe. 

Another  difficulty  yet  remained  to  be  over- 
come. The  walls  were  of  immense  height,  and 
the  only  opening  in  them  was  a  grated  window, 
of  such  strength  that  Fusberta  was  unable  to 
separate  the  bars.  In  his  distress,  however, 
Rinaldo  perceived  the  file  which  had  been  left  by 
Angelica  on  the  ground,  and,  with  the  help  of 
this,  effected  his  deliverance. 

He  is  immediately  discovered  and  surrounded, 
but  he  charges  and  slays  his  pursuers ;  and  the 
beldam,  having  witnessed  the  destruction  of  her 
followers,  throws  herself  headlong  from  a  bal- 
cony of  three  hundred  feet  in  height. 


64-  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK   I. 

Departing  hence,  Rinaldo  returns  to  the  sea- 
side; but,  unwilling  to  trust  himself  again  to 
the  bark,  pursues  his  way  along  the  shore. 

The  author  now  returns  to  Astolpho,  who 
had  set  out  in  search  of  his  cousins,  Orlando 
and  Rinaldo,  splendidly  dressed  and  equipt,  as 
was  his  use,  and  mounted  on  Bayardo ;  in 
the  intention  of  returning  him  to  his  lord. 
Having  arrived  in  Circassia,  he  finds  there  a 
great  army,  encamped  under  the  command  of 
Sacripant,  the  king  of  that  country ;  who  was 
leading  it  to  the  defence  of  Galaphron,  the 
father  of  Angelica.  Astolpho  visits  the  camp 
of  this  faithful,  but  ill-requited  lover  of  the 
princess ;  and  not  having  the  leopard  on  his 
buckler,  which  was  of  gold,  is  known  through 
the  Circassian  army  as  the  knight  of  the  golden 
shield.  Sacripant,  much  struck  by  the  appear- 
ance of  Astolpho  and  his  horse,  accosts  him 
affably,  and 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  65 

Demands  how  his  assistance  may  be  bought, 
And  bids  him  make  his  price  of  service  known, 

"  —  With  gift  of  this  fair  host,  whom  thou  hast 
brought 

"  To  war  in  Indian  fields  from  tower  and  town ;" 
The  British  duke  replies,  "With this, or  nought. — 

"  Leave  me,  or  make  me  at  this  price  thine  own. 

"  Nor  will  I  serve,  sir  king,  for  other  pay, 

"  Born  to  command,  unweeting  to  obey." 

This,  with  other  more  extravagant  speeches, 
leads  the  Circassian  captains  to  consider  him  as 
a  madman,  and  Astolpho  is  left  to  pursue  his 
journey.  King  Sacripant,  however,  has  been 
too  much  struck  with  the  appearance  of  his 
horse  and  armour,  to  part  with  him  so  easily, 
and  having  divested  himself  of  his  kingly  orna- 
ments, he  determines  to  pursue  him. 

Astolpho  was  in  the  meantime  advanced  a 
day's  journey  upon  his  road,  when  he  was  over- 
taken by  a  strange  warrior  : 


66  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

The  stranger  knight  was  named  sir  Brandimart, 
Lord  of  the  Sylvan  Tower  and  its  domain : 
Through  paynim  countries,  and  in  every  part 
Bruited  for  glorious  feats,  by  hill  and  plain. 
Well  versed  in  tilt  and  tourney's  valiant  art ; 
In  his  appearance  graceful  and  humane  : 
Courteous,  with  that :  and  over  and  above 
His  other  virtues,  famed  for  constant  love. 

A  gentle  damsel  had  the  knight  for  guide, 
Who  with  Astolpho  bold  encountered  there  ; 
Blooming  in  early  youth  and  beauty's  pride  ; 
And  in  his  faithful  eyes  as  dear  as  fair. 
Him  from  afar  the  British  duke  *  defied, 
And  proudly  bade  him  for  the  joust  prepare 
And  wheel  and  take  his   ground,  and  guard  his 
right, 

'••  Or  leave  his  lady  love,  a  prize  to  better  knight." 

Brandimart  is  as  ready  for  battle  as  Astolpho; 
but  observes,  as  the  latter  has  no  lady,  he  may 
wager  his  horse ;  as  it  was  but  fair  that  each 
should  deposit  his  stake.  The  proposal  is 

*  Astolpho. 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  67 

acceded  to,  and  the  knights  encounter.  Bran- 
diinart  is  unhorsed,  and  his  steed  falls  dead, 
while  Bayardo  remains  uninjured  by  the  shock. 

The  paynim  knight  observing  the  discon- 
solate looks  of  the  damsel,  is  so  overwhelmed 
with  despair,  that  he  draws  his  sword  and  is 
about  to  plunge  it  into  his  own  bosom.  Astol- 
pho,  however,  holds  his  hand,  and  exclaims  that 
he  contended  but  for  glory,  and  having  won 
the  honours  of  the  fight,  was  contented  to  leave 
him  the  lady. 

While  Brandimart  is  vowing  eternal  service 
and  gratitude,  king  Sacripant  arrives,  and  now 
longing  for  the  damsel  of  the  one  as  well  as  the 
steed  and  arms  of  the  other,  defies  them  to  the 
joust.  Astolpho,  as  mounted,  meets  the  chal- 
lenger, whom  he  instantly  overthrows,  and  pre- 
sents Brandimart  with  his  courser ;  leaving  the 
king  to  return  to  his  army  on  foot.  This  dis- 
position is  scarcely  made,  when  Brandimart's 
damsel  changes  colour,  and  tells  them  they  are 
F  2 


G8  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  T. 

approaching  the  waters  of  Oblivion,  and  advises 
them  either  to  turn  back,  or  to  change  their 
direction.  Both  refuse;  and  pursuing  their  path, 
arrive  at  the  bridge  where  Orlando  was  left. 

The  damsel,  as  before,  appears  with  the  en- 
chanted chalice,  which  is  rejected  by  Astolpho 
with  contumely.  She  immediately  dashes 
it  to  the  ground,  and  a  fire  blazes  up,  which 
renders  the  bridge  impassable.  Upon  this  the 
damsel,  who  accompanied  them,  seizes  each  by 
the  hand,  runs  with  them  along  the  river,  and 
brings  them  to  another  secret  and  narrow  bridge, 
which  they  cross  in  safety,  and  find  themselves 
beside  the  enchanted  garden. 

Brandimart  instantly  batters  down  the  gate, 
and  the  two  warriors  entering,  are  attacked  by 
sundry  knights  known  and  unknown,  who, 
having  no  recollection  of  any  thing,  join  blindly 
in  the  defence  of  their  prison-house.  While  these 
are  engaged  by  Brandimart,  Astolpho  entering 
the  garden  and  pursuing  his  career,  meets  with 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  69 

Orlando,  who  being,  like  the  rest,  mindless  of 
kindred  or  of  country,  makes  at  the  English  duke, 
who  only  escapes  by  the  activity  of  Bayardo. 
He  clears  the  wall,  and  bears  off  his  rider. 

The  author  pauses  to  tell  us  that  the  enchanted 
water  signifies  the  affection,  impression,  or  opi- 
nion which  man  takes  from  others,  either  at 
sight,  or  upon  trust;  and  the  cup,  which  the 
damsel  lets  fall,  is  that  which  gives  its  colour- 
ing to  the  thing  seen. 

Bayardo,  this  time,  continues  to  gain  upon 
Orlando's  horse ;  and  while  Astolpho  is  thus 
born  out  of  danger,  Brandimart  is  overlaid  with 
fearful  odds  in  the  enchanted  garden ;  and  his 
lady,  trembling  for  the  issue  of  the  battle,  en- 
treats him  to  yield  to  necessity,  and  comply 
with  the  usage  of  the  fairy.  So  saying,  she 
flies ;  and  Brandimart,  obeying  her  commands, 
yields,  and  drinking  of  the  cup,  becomes  as 
intoxicated  as  the  rest. 

Orlando  returns  from  the  fruitless  pursuit  of 
F  3 


70  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

•  • 

Astolpho,  and  excuses  himself  to  the  fairy,  who 
was  named  Dragontina,  for  not  having  been 
able  to  overtake  her  enemy ;  who  pursues  his 
way  to  Albracca,  which  Agrican  is  about  to 
besiege.  Here  he  is  welcomed  kindly  by  An- 
gelica, though  she  is  somewhat  outraged  by 
his  rhodomontades.  He  is  not  long  before 
he  attempts  to  put  them  in  practice.  For 
having  one  night  ordered  the  drawbridge  to  be 
lowered,  he  sallies  out  alone,  arrives  in  Agri- 
can's  camp,  and  unhorses  his  warriors,  right 
and  left,  by  means  of  the  enchanted  lance. 
Being,  however,  surrounded  and  taken,  his  cap- 
ture spreads  consternation  among  the  besieged, 
and  the  author  says  that  no  one  dared  sally  from 
the  city.  ^ 

Relief,  was,  however  at  hand;  for,  as  the 
burghers  and  soldiers,  are  one  day,  leaning 
over  their  walls,  they  descry  a  cloud  of  dust, 
from  which  horsemen  are  seen  to  prick  forth, 
as  it  rolls  on  towards  the  camp  of  the  besiegers, 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  71 

which  lay  between  the  town  and  the  new  army, 
was  approaching. 

This  turns  out  to  be  the  army  of  Sacripant, 
which,  arriving  the  morning  after  the  capture 
of  Astolpho,  attacks  that  of  Agrican,  with  the 
view  of  cutting  a  passage  through  his  camp  into 
the  besieged  city.  Agrican,  however,  mounted 
on  Bayardo,  taken  from  Astolpho,  but  not 
armed  with  the  lance  of  gold,  with  the  virtues 
of  which  he  appears  to  have  been  unacquainted, 
performs  prodigies,  and  rallies  his  scattered 
troops,  which  had  given  way  to  the  sudden 
and  unexpected  assault.  Sacripant,  on  the 
other  hand,  encourages  his  own  by  the  most 
desperate  acts  of  valour,  and,  as  an  additional 
incentive  to  his  courage,  sends  a  messenger  to 
Angelica,  entreating  that  she  will  appear  upon 
the  walls.  She  not  only  complies  with  this  in- 
vitation, but  sends  him  a  sword  as  an  earnest 
of  her  favour. 

She  arrives  in  time  to  see  a  single  combat 
F  4- 


72  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

between  the  two  leaders,  Agrican  and  Sacri- 
pant:  in  this,  however,  her  defender  appears 
to  be  rather  overmatched,  when  the  Cir- 
cassians break  the  ring,  and  separate  the  two 
combatants,  who  are  borne  asunder  by  the 
crowd.  Sacripant,  who  was  severely  wounded, 
profits  by  the  occasion,  and  escapes  into  Albracca, 
where  he  is  put  to  bed  and  carefully  attended. 

The  duel  is  an  omen  of  the  event  of  the 
battle,  and  the  Circassians,  who  had  at  first 
penetrated  within  their  enemies'  lines,  are  now 
routed  and  fly  in  confusion  towards  the  town. 
Angelica  orders  the  drawbridge  to  be  lowered, 
and  the  gates  to  be  thrown  open  to  the  fugi- 
tives. With  these  Agrican,  who  was  not  distin- 
guished hi  the  hurly-burly,  enters  the  place 
pell  mell,  driving  both  Circassians  and  Catayans 
before  him,  and  the  portcullis  is  instantly  dropt. 

Thus  shut  into  the  besieged  city,  the  Tartar 
king  continues  the  chase,  regardless  of  his  re- 
treat being  intercepted,  and  deluges  the  streets 
with  blood.  Sacripant,  hearing  the  tumult,  and 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  73 

learning  the  cause,  leaps  from  bed,  naked  and 
wounded  as  he  was,  and  armed  only  with  his 
sword  and  shield,  opposes  himself  to  his  fury. 
His  example  and  his  reproaches  take  effect. 
Her  allies  the  flyers,  and,  fresh  forces  coming 
to  his  assistance,  and  pouring  in  upon  Agrican 
from  all  sides,  the  Tartar  king  slowly  and  re- 
luctantly retreats. 

The  author  here  suspends  this  story,  to 
speak  ofRinaldo;  whom  we  left  issuing  from  the 
castle  of  Altaripa,  and  pursuing  his  way  along 
the  beach.  Here  he  meets  with  a  weeping 
damsel,  who,  being  questioned  as  to  the  cause  of 
her  sorrow,  tells  him  she  wanders  upon  a  hopeless 
quest,  and  is  in  search  of  one  who  will  do  battle 
with  nine  knights,  amongst  whom  is  Orlando. 
This  is  the  lady  loved  of  Brandimart ;  to  whom 
Rinaldo  promises  his  assistance,  trusting  to  ac- 
complish the  adventure  either  by  valour  or  by 
skill.  The  author  here  pauses  from  his  nar- 
rative, and  exclaims, 


74-  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

To  the  grim  winter  and  the  dismal  night 

Succeed  the  balmy  spring  and  cheerful  day. 
That  battle  had  so  fill'd  me  with  affright, 
That  I  was  all  confusion  and  dismay  : 
But  now  the  strife  is  over,  and  'tis  light, 
Of  ladies  and  of  love  shall  be  my  lay  ; 
And  I  will  piece  my  broken  tale  and  tell 
What  good  Rinaldo  and  the  maid  befell. 

The  damsel,  on  their  setting  out  together  on 
the  adventure,  insists  upon  Rinaldo's  taking 
her  horse.  This  he  refuses,  and  a  contest  of 
courtesy  follows,  which  is  ended  by  Rinaldo's 
accepting  the  palfrey,  on  condition  of  her 
mounting  upon  the  croup.  This  she  does, 
in  some  fear  for  her  honour ;  but  finding  the 
cavalier  cold  and  silent,  at  last  proposes  to  be- 
guile the  way  with  a  story.  To  this  he  con- 
sents, and  she  begins  her  narration  as  follows  : 

"  There  lived  of  late,  in  Babylon,  a  cavalier, 
called  Iroldo,  who  had  for  his  wife  a  lady  named 
Tisbina,  to  whom  he  was  passionately  attached. 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  75 

Near  them  dwelt  a  Babylonian  gentleman, 
named  Prasildo,  rich,  gay,  courteous  and  va- 
liant; who,  making  one  of  a  party  of  both  sexes, 
in  a  garden,  where  a  game  was  played  which 
admitted  familiarities  between  them,  fell  desper- 
ately in  love  with  Tisbina,  whom  he  vainly  solicited, 
by  every  kind  of  gallantry  and  magnificence. 

"  All  his  efforts  were  however  unavailing ; 
and,  disappointed  in  his  hope,  he  fell  into  a  state 
of  melancholy  which  rendered  life  intolerable. 
One  only  occupation  seemed  to  afford  him  some 
little  relief.  This  was  to  brood  over  his  sor- 
rows in  a  wood,  situated  at  a  small  distance 
from  Babylon. 

"  As  he  here  one  day  indulged  his  grief, 
(and  it  grew  by  indulgence,)  he  fell  into  such 
a  fit  of  passion,  that  he  determined,  after  a 
broken  soliloquy,  to  slay  himself  and  die 
with  the  name  of  Tisbina  on  his  lips.  By  a 
strange  accident,  his  intention  was  overheard  by 
Iroldo  and  Tisbina  herself,  who  were  walking 


76  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

together  in  the  wood.  They  were  both  moved 
to  compassion;  and  Iroldo  insisted  upon  Tis- 
bina's  offering  some  consolation  to  the  despair- 
ing lover. 

"  Her  husband  leaving  her,  that  she  may  exe- 
cute this  purpose,  she  comes  upon  him  as  if  by 
accident;  pretends  that,  though  modesty  has 
hitherto  restrained  her,  she  has  not  been  insen- 
sible to  his  tenderness ;  and  assures  him,  that,  if 
he  will  give  her  an  indubitable  proof  of  his  de- 
votion, in  undertaking  an  adventure  which  she 
has  at  heart,  she  will  reward  him  with  the  pos- 
session of  her  person.  :  • 

"  She  then  tells  him  that  beyond  the  woods  of 
Barbary,  there  is  a  garden,  which  is  surrounded 
by  an  iron  wall,  to  be  entered  through  four 
gates.  These  are  respectively  called  the  gate 
of  Life,  of  Death,  of  Riches,  and  of  Poverty. 

"  In  the  centre  (she  said)  was  a  tree,  whose 
top  was  an  arrow's  flight  from  the  ground,  with 
leaves  of  emerald,  and  golden  fruit.  Of  this 


BOOK   I.  INNAMORATO.  77 

tree  she  required  a  branch,  and  again  renewed 
her  assurance  of  the  price  which  she  would  pay 
for  the  acquisition.  Prasildo  joyfully  promised 
it,  and  would  have  promised  sun,  moon,  and 
stars,  as  easily  as  the  achievement  of  the  ad- 
venture ;  upon  which  he  immediately  departs. 

"  The  lady,  it  appears,  dispatched  him 
to  the  garden  of  Medusa*,  for  so  it  was  called, 
that  he  might  find  a  cure  for  his  love  in  ab- 
sence and  in  travel :  or,  if  he  reached  the  spot, 
might  find  there  a  yet  surer  remedy  for  his 
distemper.  For  the  sight  of  Medusa,  who  was 
to  be  found  standing  under  the  wonderful  tree, 
occasioned  every  one  to  forget  the  errand  he 
came  on,  and,  if  he  had  any  speech  with  the 
dame,  his  very  name  and  self. 

"  Prasildo,  departing  on  this  forlorn  enter- 
prise, traversed  Egypt,  and  arriving  near  the 

*  Designed,  I  suppose,  as  the  type  of  conscience ;  as  one 
"  whose  sight  would  make  him  forget  the  errand  on  which  he 
came,"  &c. 


78  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

mountains  of  Barca,  encounters  an  old  man,  to 
whom  he  relates  the  object  of  his  expedition. 

"  The  old  man  assures  him  that  fortune  could 
not  have  directed  him  to  a  better  counsellor,  and 
immediately  furnishes  him  with  his  instructions. 

"  He  begins  by  telling  him  that  the  gates  of 
Life  and  of  Death  are  never  used  as  entrances 
to  the  enchanted  enclosure ;  and  that  it  is  only 
through  the  gate  of  Poverty  that  man  can  pene- 
trate into  the  garden  of  Medusa.  He  next 
informs  him  that  Medusa  herself  guards  the 

o 

marvellous  tree;  whose  appearance  deprives 
whoever  sets  eyes  on  her  of  his  memory ;  but 
that  she  is  to  be  terrified  into  flight  by  the  re- 
flection of  her  own  face. 

"  He  therefore  counsels  Prasildo  to  provide 
himself  with  a  shield  of  looking-glass,  being  in 
other  respects  naked ;  for  such  appearance  is 
a  fitting  guise  for  entering  the  gate  of  Poverty. 
This  (he  observes)  is  the  most  terrible  and  the 
most  severely  guarded  of  all,  being  watched  by 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  79 

Misery  and  Shame,  Cold,  Hunger,  Melancholy, 
and  Scorn.  "  There,"  said  he,  "  is  to  be  seen 
Roguery  stretched  upon  the  ground,  and  cover- 
ed with  itch,  and  (in  strange  union,)  Industry 
and  Laziness,  Compassion  and  Desperation. 

"  Having  succeeded  in  the  enterprise, 
and  torn  off  a  branch  of  the  tree,  you  will 
seek  the  opposite  gate,"  he  pursues,  "  by 
which  you  are  to  retreat;  and  will  there  find 
Wealth  seated,  and  on  the  watch.  Here  you  are 
to  make  an  offering  of  a  portion  of  the  branch, 
that  Avarice,  who  plays  the  porter,  may  open  to 
you  quickly ;  a  wretch  who  asks  the  more,  the 
more  you  give.  Here,  too,  you  will  see  Pomp 
and  Honour,  Flattery  and  Hospitality,  Am- 
bition, Grandeur,  and  Favour :  then  Inquietude 
and  Torment,  Jealousy,  Suspicion,  Fear,  So- 
licitude, and  Terror.  Behind  the  door  stand 
Hate,  and  Envy  with  a  bow  for  ever  bent." 

"  Prasildo  having  received  his  full  instructions, 
now  crosses  the  desert,  and,  after  thirty  days' 
journey,  arrives  at  the  garden.  Here  he  easily 


80  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

passes  the  gate  of  Poverty,  the  entry  of  which 
no  one  defends.  On  the  contrary,  there  ever 
stands  some  one  near  it,  to  encourage  and  invite. 
"  Having  entered  the  inclosure,  he  advances, 
holding  his  shield  of  glass  before  his  eyes ;  and 
reaching  the  tree,  against  which  Medusa  was 
leaning,  the  Fairy,  who  raises  her  head  at  his 
approach,  and  beholds  herself  in  the  mirror, 
takes  to  flight ;  scared,  it  seems,  by  seeing  re- 
flected in  it  the  head  of  a  serpent;  though 
in  other  eyes  her  beauty  is  divine.*  Prasildo, 
hearing  the  Fairy  fly,  uncovers  his  eyes,  which 
were  before  protected  by  his  shield,  and  leaving 
her  to  escape,  goes  directly  to  the  tree,  from 
which  he  severs  a  branch.  Then,  pursuing  the 
directions  received,  makes  for  the  opposite  gate, 


*  The  circumstance  of  Medusa  not  being  able  to  contem- 
plate the  reflection  of  her  own  hideous  appearance,  though 
beautiful  in  the  sight  of  others  ;  the  fact  of  no  one  being  able 
to  win  the  golden  bough  which  she  kept,  but  by  refraining  from 
looking  her  in  the  face;  and  other  circumstances,  confirm  the 
conjecture  which  I  have  hazarded  in  a  preceding  note. 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  81 

where  he  sees  Wealth,  surrounded  by  her  fol- 
lowers. This  gate,  which  is  of  load-stone,  never 
opens  without  noise,  and  is  for  the  most  part 
shut :  Fatigue  and  Fraud  are  the  guides  who 
conduct  to  it.  It  is,  however,  sometimes  open ; 
but  requires  both  luck  and  courage  to  enable 
any  one  to  profit  by  the  chance.  It  was  open 
the  day  Prasildo  came,  and  he  made  the  offering 
of  half  the  bough,  as  he  was  instructed,  and 
escaped  with  the  remainder  of  his  prize. 

"  Transported  with  pleasure,  he  issues  from 
the  garden,  passes  through  Nubia,  crosses  the 
Arabian  Gulf  with  a  fair  wind,  and  journeys 
day  and  night  till  he  arrives  in  Babylon. 

"  Arrived  there,  he  sends  immediate  news  of 
his  success  to  Tisbina,  who  is  in  an  agony  at 
learning  the  unexpected  result  of  her  device. 
Iroldo  is  rendered  equally  miserable,  but  insists 
upon  the  necessity  of  her  redeeming  her 
promise,  though  he  knows  he  cannot  survive  its 
execution.  She  feels  that  she  can  as  ill  survive 


82  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

Iroldo ;  and  they  at  last  resolve,  that  faith  must 
be  kept  with  Prasildo,  and  that  they  will  both  die. 
They  accordingly  send  to  an  aged  apothecary 
for  a  deadly  draught,  which  they  divide  between 
them ;  and  each  having  swallowed  a  due  portion, 
Iroldo  covers  his  face  and  throws  himself  on 
his  bed,  while  the  yet  more  miserable  Tisbina 
proceeds  to  the  residence  of  Prasildo.  Here 
she  attempts  to  dissemble  her  sorrow  and  to 
feign  a  cheerfulness,  foreign  to  her  heart.  But 
Prasildo  detects  the  imposture,  and  at  last  ex- 
torts a  full  confession  of  the  truth.  This  de- 
clared, he  reproaches  her,  as  having  little  faith 
in  his  generosity,  with  a  bursting  heart  renounces 
the  proffered  happiness,  and  dismisses  her  with 
an  affectionate  kiss. 

"  Tisbina,  who  had  assured  him  that  if  she 
had  known  him  first,  she  should  have  loved 
him  as  devotedly  as  she  did  her  husband, 
now  departs,  overflowing  with  gratitude,  and 
returns  to  Iroldo  who  was  still  unaffected  by 
the  draught,  but  prostrate  on  the  bed.  She 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  83 

relates  to  him  the  sacrifice  of  her  lover.  The 
husband  springs  from  his  couch,  thanks  God 
for  this  last  mercy,  and  invokes  every  blessing 
upon  the  head  of  Prasildo.  While  he  is  yet 
praying,  he  sees  the  countenance  of  Tisbina 
change,  who  sinks,  as  if  overcome  by  sleep. 
The  husband  sees  the  operation  of  the  drink 
with  horror,  and  is  transported  from  his  short 
fit  of  pleasure,  to  a  state  of  the  most  agonizing 
despair. 

"  The  situation  of  Prasildo  is  scarcely 
less  intolerable ;  who  locked  himself  up  in  his 
chamber,  in  order  to  indulge  his  grief  in  soli- 
tude, upon  the  departure  of  Tisbina.  While 
he  is  shut  up  in  darkness,  the  ancient  apothe- 
cary calls,  and  tells  his  valet  that  Prasildo's  life 
depends  upon  his  immediate  admission  to  him. 
The  valet  was  a  native  of  Casazzo,  of  a  merry 
humour  and  full  of  faith  and  attachment,  diligent, 
active,  and  experienced  in  all  his  duties ;  but  of 
a  frankness  which  sometimes  gave  his  master 
G  2 


84  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

offence.  This  man,  having  a  master-key,  ad- 
mits the  apothecary ;  who  excusing  the  intru- 
sion by  his  zeal  for  Prasildo's  repose,  informs 
him  that  he  had  that  morning  furnished  the 
chambermaid  of  Tisbina  with  a  potion,  by  her 
mistress's  order,  which  he  believed  was  des- 
tined for  his  destruction,  as  Tisbina  had  been 
shortly  afterwards  traced  to  his  house ;  but  adds, 
that  he  need  be  under  no  apprehension,  even  if 
he  has  swallowed  the  draught:  since,  in  the 
apprehension  of  mischief,  he  had  substituted  a 
mere  sleeping-potion,  the  effects  of  which  were 
only  calculated  to  last  for  a  few  hours. 

"  Prasildo,  transported  with  joy,  immediately 
flies  in  search  of  Iroldo,  whose  stronger  con- 
stitution had  as  yet  resisted  the  soporific,  and 
informs  him  of  the  joyful  tidings  of  the  apothe- 
cary. Iroldo  receives  the  news  in  such  a  manner 
as  might  have  been  expected,  and  concludes  with 
making  Prasildo  a  return  such  as  he  had  never 
looked  for.  In  a  transport  of  gratitude,  he 


HOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  85 

insists  on  his  receiving  Tisbina,  and  accordingly 
departs  from  Babylon,  leaving  her  yet  asleep. 
On  waking,  she  is  combated  by  opposing  feel- 
ings ;  but  at  length,  as  the  generosity  of  Pra- 
sildo  had  made  more  impression  on  her  heart, 
than  she  was  willing  to  confess,  even  to  herself, 
yields  to  Iroldo's  will,  and  takes  Prasildo  for 
her  husband."  rs 

OPV^ 

The  damsel  was  yet  speaking,  when  a  loud 
cry  was   heard,    which    filled   her    with   con-  Jr 

sternation.  Rinaldo  however,  re-assuring  her 
as  he  best  could,  pressed  forward  through  the 
wood  (for  they  were  then  in  the  centre  of  one) 
towards  the  quarter  from  which  it  proceeded. 

He  soon  perceived  a  giant  standing  under  a 
vaulted  cavern,  with  a  large  club  in  his  hand, 
and  of  an  appearance  to  have  struck  the  boldest 
spirit  with  dread.  On  each  side  of  the  cavern 
was  chained  a  griffin,  who,  together  with  the 
giant,  were  stationed  there  for  the  protection  of 
the  horse  which  was  once  Argalia's. 
G  3 


86  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK   I. 

This  monster  of  enchantment  was  the  creature. 
For  of  a  mare,  composed  of  spark  and  flame, 
(Strange  wonder,  and  beyond  the  laws  of  nature) 
Made  pregnant  by  the  wind,  the  courser  came ; 
Matchless  in  vigour,  speed,  and  form  and  feature. 
Such  was  his  birth,  and  Rabican  his  name : 
Who,  with  his  fellow-steeds,  disdain'd  to  share 
The  proffer'd  corn  or  grass,  and  fed  on  air. 

This  marvellous  horse  being  driven  away  by 
Ferrau,  in  the  wood  of  Arden,  previous  to  his 
fatal  encounter  with  Argalia,  who  had  possessed 
himself  of  him  by  enchantment,  on  finding  him- 
self at  liberty,  returned  to  his  native  cavern,  and 
was  here  stabled  under  the  protection  of  the 
giant  and  the  griffins.  Towards  these  Rinaldo 
advances  with  deliberate  valour,  over  ground 
whitened  with  the  bones  of  their  victims.  He 
is  the  first  to  smite  at  the  giant,  but  his  stroke 
is  rendered  of  no  effect  by  the  enchanted  helmet 
of  his  adversary.  In  a  second  blow  he  is  more 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  87 

fortunate;  but  his  adversary,  though  wounded 
near  the  heart,  escapes,  and  looses  his  griffins. 
One  of  these  immediately  seizes  the  giant  by 
a  foot:  rises  with  him  into  the  sky,  hovers 
over  Rinaldo's  head,  and  at  length  drops 
his  burden,  with  intent  to  crush  the  intruder. 
Rinaldo,  however,  who  was  as  remarkable  for 
his  activity,  as  for  his  strength  and  courage, 
shuns  the  descending  mischief,  and  the  giant 
falls  to  the  ground  crushed,  without  harm  to  the 
paladin.  In  the  meantime,  the  other  griffin, 
having  towered  in  air,  pounces  upon  Rinaldo, 
who,  watching  his  opportunity,  wounds  her  des- 
perately in  her  descent.  She  has,  however, 
strength  enough  to  soar  a  second  flight,  and 
swooping  upon  Rinaldo's  helmet,  loosens  its 
circle  with  her  claws ;  tear  it  she  could  not, 
since  this  was  the  enchanted  helmet,  which  was 
once  the  head-piece  of  Mambrino. 

In  this  manner  the  griffin  repeats  her  attacks, 
and  Rinaldo  fends  and  parries  as  he  can ;  while 
G  4 


88  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  J. 

the  damsel  stands  trembling  near,  and  witnesses 
the  contest. 

The  battle  still  continued,  rendered  more  ter- 
rible by  the  approach  of  night ;  when  Rinaldo, 
fearing  he  should  not  be  able  to  distinguish 
his  enemy,  determined  upon  a  desperate  ex- 
pedient, in  order  to  bring  it  to  a  conclusion. 
He  fell,  as  if  fainting  from  his  wounds,  and  on 
the  close  approach  of  the  griffin,  dealt  her  a 
blow,  which  sheared  away  one  of  her  wings. 
The  beast,  though  sinking,  griped  him  fast  with 
her  talons,  digging  through  plate  and  mail : 
but  Rinaldo  plied  his  sword  in  utter  desper- 
ation, and  at  last  accomplished  her  destruc- 
tion. 

The  damsel  now  entreats  Rinaldo  to  mount 
and  proceed;  but  he  thinks  the  adventure  ill 
accomplished,  and  proceeds  towards  the  en- 
trance of  the  cavern.  This  was  secured  by  a 
door, 


BOOK  I.  JNNAMORATO.  89 


Whose  marble  pannel  a  mosaic  fill'd 

Of  pearl  and  emerald,  sown  with  care  so  nice ; 
That  he  who  saw  the  piece,  if  little  skill'd, 
Might  deem  it  was  a  treasure  passing  price. 
In  the  mid-picture  lay  a  damsel  kill'd ; 
And,  writ  in  golden  letters,  the  device 
This  legend  bore :  "  Let  whoso  passes,  plight 

"  His  word  to  'venge  my  death,  and  do  me  right ; 

"  Or  he  shall  die  the  death  ;  but  if  he  swear 
"  To  slay  the  traitor  who  my  death  design'd ; 
"  The  enchanted  courser  shall  the  warrior  bear, 
"  A  courser  that  is  swifter  than  the  wind." 

The  prince  stopt  not  to  think  ;  but  plighted  there 

In  solemn  form,  his  promise,  as  enjoin'd ; 

His  promise  to  avenge,  alive  or  dead, 

The  slaughter'd  damsel's  blood,  unjustly  shed. 


90  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

Then  enters,  and  beholds  the  courser  tied 
With  chains  of  gold,  so  famous  for  his  speed. 
With  foot-cloth  of  white  silk  he  was  supplied, 
And  all  things  else  convenient  for  his  need. 
Tho'  coal-black  all  the  rest,  the  tail  was  pied, 
And  starred  with  white  the  forehead  of  the  steed  ; 
And  white  one  foot  behind.     Bayardo's  might 
Was  more :  but  this  had  pass'd  a  dart  in  flight. 

Rinaldo  is  delighted  with  his  adventure,  and, 
while  surveying  the  steed,  beholds  a  book, 
secured  by  a  chain,  in  which  was  written  in 
blood  the  history  of  the  damsel's  death. 

The  book  related  that  Truffaldino,  king  of 
Baldacca,  had  a  count  for  his  neighbour,  dis- 
tinguished for  his  virtues  and  accomplishments, 
whom  that  evil-minded  prince  misliked  on  that 
very  account.  His  name  was  Orisello,  and 
Montefalcon  was  that  of  the  castle  where  he 
resided.  This  lord  had  a  sister  as  distinguished 
for  her  merit,  called  Albarosa,  who  loved  Po- 
lindo,  a  noble  knight  of  equal  virtue  and  daring. 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  91 

The  castle  was  built  upon  a  rock,  and  so  well 
fortified,  that  Truffaldino,  who  had  warred 
upon  the  count,  though  he  had  made  several 
assaults  upon  it,  had  always  been  defeated  in 
his  attempts. 

Things  being  in  this  state,  Polindo,  who  had 
a  great  love  for  travel,  and  often  wandered  from 
court  to  court,  arrived  at  that  of  Truffaldino; 
who,  for  his  own  evil  views,  shewed  him  great 
favour,  and  having  acquired  his  confidence, 
promised  him  assistance  in  his  designs  upon 
Albarosa.  As  a  means  of  forwarding  these,  he 
presents  him  with  a  castle  of  pleasure,  situated 
a  day's  journey  from  Montefalcon ;  and  Po- 
lindo having  persuaded  Albarosa  to  elope  with 
him,  carries  her  thither ;  but  while  they  are 
supping  together,  with  infinite  delight,  Truffal- 
dino, who  had  entered  the  castle  by  a  subter- 
raneous passage,  unknown  to  its  new  possessor, 
breaks  in  upon  them  with  a  party  of  his  retain- 
ers, and  binds  them  both.  He  then  dictates  a 


92  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

letter  to  the  lady,  which  he  orders  her  to  send 
to  her  brother  Orisello,  in  order  to  decoy  him 
into  his  hands.  She  refuses ;  when  the  tyrant 
puts  her  to  the  torture,  in  the  presence  of 
Polindo,  before  whose  eyes  she  expires,  re- 
fusing compliance  with  her  latest  breath. 

Rinaldo,  having  read  this  dreadful  history, 
swears  anew  to  avenge  the  treason,  and,  mounted 
upon  Rabican,  issues  forth  from  the  cavern. 
He  and  the  damsel,  however,  have  not  ridden 
far,  when  the  light  fails  them  in  a  forest,  where 
they  dismount,  secure  their  horses,  and  compose 
themselves  to  rest. 

Beside  the  maid  with  zest  Rinaldo  sleeps ; 

For  him,  nor  time,  nor  place,  nor  beauty  move. 
From  whence  we  learn  the  antidote,  which  keeps 
The  heart  and  mind  from  that  which  is  above 
All  other  cure ;  that  he,  who  sows  and  reaps, 
Or  tilts  and  tourneys,  never  dies  of  love : 
But  in  this  book  I  am  ill  read,  nor  can 
Bolt,  as  I  would,  such  matters  to  the  bran. 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  93 

And  now  the  air  on  every  side  grew  light, 

Though  the  sun  shew'd  not  yet  his  golden  ray ; 
With  few  and  fading  stars  the  sky  was  dight, 
And  the  glad  birds  rang  out  their  matin  lay. 
Such  was  the  season,  neither  day  nor  night ; 
When  the  maid  view'd  Rinaldo  where  he  lay ; 
Who  from  her  grassy  couch  before  had  crept, 
And  watch'd  the  weary  warrior  as  he  slept. 

Of  lively  visage,  though  composed  to  rest, 
The  lusty  knight  in  early  youth  appear'd, 
Light  in  the  flanks,  and  large  across  the  chest ; 
And  on  his  lip  scarce  bloom'd  the  manly  beard. 
On  him  the  damsel  gazed  with  alter'd  breast, 
To  her  by  new-discovered  gifts  endear'd : 
For  slumber  ever  gives  the  sleeper's  face 
I  know  not  what  of  loveliness  and  grace. 

While  the  damsel  is  engaged  in  contemplat- 
ing the  knight,  she  is  startled  by  a  loud  roar, 
and  turning,  sees  a  centaur  with  a  live  lion, 
which  he  had  just  taken,  hi  one  hand,  and  a 


94-  THE   ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

club  and  three  darts  in  the  other.  Rinaldo  is 
at  the  same  time  awakened  by  the  sound, 
and  grasping  his  shield,  or  rather  the  rem- 
nant of  it,  which  had  been  left  by  the  griffin, 
advances  to  her  assistance. 

The  centaur  now  leaves  his  prey,  and  flying 
to  a  little  distance,  launches  his  darts  at  the  pa- 
ladin. These  he  avoids  by  his  agility,  when  the 
monster  returns  and  charges  him  with  his  club. 
Rinaldo,  thus  pressed,  shelters  himself,  by 
placing  his  back  against  a  pine,  and  maintains 
the  combat  with  Fusberta.  The  centaur,  who 
had  at  first  seemed  to  have  the  advantage,  in 
being  able  to  curvet  about  the  knight,  and 
threaten  him  behind  and  before,  finding  himself 
deprived  of  this  double  means  of  annoyance, 
leaves  him,  and  gallops  after  the  damsel,  who  had 
in  the  meantime  seated  herself  upon  her  palfrey. 
From  this  he  snatches  her  in  fury,  throws  her 
on  his  own  croup,  and  flies  with  her  through 
the  forest. 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  95 

Rinaldo,  who  is  this  while  engaged  in  mount- 
ing Rabican,  follows ;  and,  such  is  the  swiftness 
of  his  horse,  is  almost  immediately  up  with  the 
beast ;  who,  being  overtaken  on  the  brink  of  a 
rapid  river,  casts  his  burden  into  the  stream, 
which  carries  it  away.  Rinaldo  and  the  cen- 
taur again  join  in  battle ;  at  first  on  the  shore, 
and  afterwards  in  the  water.  The  paladin  at 
length  slays  his  savage  opponent :  but  having 
slain  the  monster,  is  in  doubt  what  course  to 
pursue. 

He  at  last  determines  to  proceed  in  the 
adventure  in  which  he  had  embarked,  being 
especially  moved  thereto,  by  the  hope  of  de- 
livering Orlando.  Deprived  then  of  the  guid- 
ance of  the  poor  damsel,  he  resolves  to  steer 
the  same  northern  course  in  which  she  had 
before  directed  him. 

Here,  however,  according  to  the  author, 
Turpin  leaves  the  story  to  return  to  Albraccn. 
Agrican  was  left  there,  surrounded  and  alone, 


96  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

in  the  midst  of  his  enemies.  Whilst  he  is  thus 
reduced  to  the  last  extremities,  he  is  saved  by 
the  very  circumstance  which  threatened  him 
with  destruction.  The  soldiers  of  Angelica, 
closing  upon  him  from  all  parts,  had  deserted 
their  defences,  and  his  own  besieging  army  enter 
these  pell  mell,  in  a  part  where  the  wall  is 
accessible. 

In  this  way  was  Agrican  rescued,  the  city  taken 
by  storm,  and  the  miserable  inhabitants  put  to 
the  sword.  Angelica,  however,  with  some  of 
the  kings  who  were  her  defenders,  and  amongst 
whom  was  Truffaldino,  saved  herself  in  the  cita- 
del, which  was  planted  upon  a  rock.  Hither 
also  came  Sacripant  when  all  beside  was  lost. 

But  though  the  situation  of  the  fortress  ren- 
dered it  impregnable,  it  was  scantily  victualled 
and  ill  provided  with  other  necessaries  besides 
food.  Under  these  circumstances,  Angelica 
announced  to  those  blockaded  with  her  in  the 
citadel,  her  intention  to  go  in  quest  of  assist- 


BOOK  1.  INNAMORATO.  97 

ance ;    and,    having    plighted    her   promise  to 

come  back  within  a  certain  period,    set   out, 

f*"-    L*.  }  2. 

with  the  enchanted  ring  upon  her  finger.        *•*?"»**  £  *» 

Mounted  on  her  palfrey,  the  damsel  passed 
through  the  enemies'  camp  at  night,  without 
having  occasion  to  avail  herself  of  the  talisman, 
and  by  sun- rise  was  many  miles  clear  of  their 
encampment 

She  at  length  arrives  near  Orgagna  in  Cir- 
cassia,  and  here  encounters  an  old  man  weeping 
bitterly,  who  entreats  her  assistance  on  behalf 
of  his  only  son,  who  is  dying  of  a  fever.  The 
damsel,  who  was  well  skilled  in  medicine,  pro- 
mises succour,  turns  her  palfrey,  and  accom- 
panies the  elder. 

This  old  man  was  a  traitor,  and  his  story  *  \ 
a  fiction,  formed  for  the  pui'pose  of  getting 
her  into  his  hands.  He  was,  it  seems,  employed 
to  inveigle  and  capture  damsels  for  the  king 
of  Orgagna,  and  for  this  purpose  brought  those 
who  followed  him  to  a  tower,  built  over  a  river, 
H 


98  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

which  served  him  as  a  dungeon  for  his  prison- 
ers. Angelica  following  him  thither,  the  door 
closed  upon  her,  and  she  found  herself  a  cap- 

33  live  with  many  other  dames  and  damsels. 
^2  d  Amongst  these  was  Flordelis,  the  lady  of  Bran- 
dimart, who,  when  cast  into  the  river  by  the 
centaur,  had  drifted  with  the  current,  and  was 
taken  up  more  dead  than  alive,  by  the  wicked 
elder.  She  now  relates  her  adventures  to  An- 
gelica, and  tells  her  how  she  was  going,  accom- 
panied by  Rinaldo,  to  the  garden  of  Dragontina, 
where  Orlando,  Brandimart,  and  many  other 
valiant  knights  were  enchanted  by  that  fairy. 

Angelica  treasures  up  their  history  in  her 
mind,  as  useful  to  the  purpose  which  she  had 

^  \  in  hand,  and  on  the  door  of  the  tower  opening, 
to  admit  a  new  victim,  slips  the  ring  into  her 
mouth  and  escapes. 

Being  again  at  liberty,  she  sets  out  for  the 
garden  of  Dragontina,  and,  entering  it  unseen, 
disenchants  Orlando,  Brandimart,  and  the  rest, 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  99 

by  a  touch  of  her  talisman.  These  she  con- 
jures to  assist  her  in  the  recovery  of  her  king- 
dom, and  all  depart  together  for  Albracca. 

In  the  meantime  a  revolution  had  taken  place 
in  the  citadel  of  that  metropolis.  Truffaldino, 
always  false,  had  surprised  Sacripant,  and  the 
other  wounded  princes  in  their  beds,  and 
cast  them  into  prison.  This  done,  he  sent  a 
messenger  to  Agrican,  with  an  offer  to  deliver  6  2- 
the  fortress  into  his  hands.  Agrican,  however, 
received  the  proposal  in  a  manner  little  ex- 
pected by  Truffaldino,  whom  he  reviled  as  a 
traitor  and  a  coward ;  declared  that  he  would 
never  be  indebted  to  fraud,  for  that  which  he 
could  have  by  force;  said  he  knew  the  extre- 
mities of  the  garrison,  which  must  soon  be  his, 
and  declared,  that  as  soon  as  the  place  was  in 
his  possession,  he  would  hang  up  Truffaldino 
by  the  heels. 

Soon  after  this,  Orlando,  with  his  friendly    ^  *> 
squadron  of  knights    (nine   in    number),   with 
H  2 


100  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

Angelica  in  the  midst  of  them,  arrives  before 
Albracca;  and  charging  through  the  camp  of 
Agrican,  arrives  at  the  foot  of  the  citadel :  this 
is,  however,  kept  against  them  by  Truffaldino, 
who  appears  upon  the  walls,  and  declares  that 
he  will  only  admit  Orlando  and  his  followers, 
on  their  swearing  to  protect  him  for  ever  from 
the  vengeance  of  Sacripant  and  the  others; 
whom,  for  his  own  safety,  he  has  been  under 
the  necessity  of  casting  into  prison.  Orlando 
indignantly  refuses ;  but,  conjured  by  Angelica, 
consents ;  as  do  the  others  who  accompany 
him ;  and  after  the  oath  has  been  taken  as  en- 
joined, the  squadron  enters  the  fortress. 

This,  however,  is  found  so  destitute  of  food, 
that  a  sally  is  resolved  upon  for  the  purpose  of 
provisioning  it :  it  is  to  be  made  by  Orlando, 
Brandimart,  Adrian,  Clarion,  and  Uberto  of  the 
Lion ;  while  Gryphon  and  Aquilant  remain  at 
home  for  the  protection  of  Angelica  and  the 
citadel. 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  101 

Orlando  and  his  friends  having  made  the 
warder  lower  his  drawbridge,  ride  boldly  to- 
wards the  enemy's  camp ;  and  Agrican,  mark- 
ing their  scanty  number,  bids  his  squadrons 
stand  apart,  and  leave  a  fair  field  for  himself 
and  Orlando,  who  engage  in  a  desperate  duel. 
While  they  are  employed  in  this,  with  little 
vantage  on  either  side,  and  to  their  mutual  as- 
tonishment at  finding  themselves  so  equally 
matched,  a  loud  larum  is  heard  from  the  citadel, 
which  announces  the  arrival  of  succours. 

This  was  an  army,  raised  by  Galaphron,  for 
the  relief  of  Albracca ;  the  vanguard  commanded 
by  a  vassal  giant;  the  second  body  by  Mar- 
phisa,  a  young  Indian  queen,  who  had  made 
a  vow  in  her  infancy,  never  to  lay  aside  her 
armour,  till  she  had  taken  three  kings  prisoners, 
to  wit,  Charlemagne,  Gradasso,  and  Agrican ; 
while  the  rear-guard  was  conducted  by  Gala- 
phron himself.  The  van-guard,  led  by  the 
giant,  is  immediately  engaged  with  the  besiegers; 
H  3 


102  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

and  its  leader,  armed  with  an  immense  hammer, 
deals  such  destruction  amongst  their  ranks,  that 
all  is  speedily  in  confusion  and  disarray. 

Agrican,  witnessing  the  rout  of  his  followers, 
now  entreats  Orlando,  for  his  lady's  love,  that 
their  combat  may  be  suspended  till  the  morrow, 
in  order  to  give  him  an  opportunity  of  rallying 
the  fugitives.  This  Orlando  not  only  grants, 
but  offers  to  assist  him  in  his  design.  The 
offer  is,  however,  courteously  declined  by  Agri- 
can,  who,  flying  in  pursuit  of  the  giant,  unhorses 
him,  and  leaves  him  desperately  wounded  to 
the  daggers  of  his  followers.  He  himself 
charges  the  troops  who  come  under  the  giant's 
conduct ;  and  the  tide  of  battle  is  turned. 

No  attempt  to  stop  the  confusion  of  the  van- 
guard is  made  by  Marphisa,  who  this  time  was 
retired  from  the  field,  and  sleeping  under  a 
tree. 


BOOK  I.  1NNAMORATO.  103 

But  first  the  queen  her  chamber-wench  bespoke. 

"  Attend  to  my  command,"  Marphisa  said, 

"  And  when  thou  seest  our  Indian  army  broke, 

"  And  Galaphron,  its  royal  leader,  dead, 

"  When  all  these  things  shall  be,  'twere  time  I 

woke, 
u    Then,  bring  my  steed  and  rouse  me  from  my 

bed. 

'•  But  till  these  things  shall  be,  such  care  delay, 
"  'Tis  then  this  single  arm  shall  change  the  day." 

Galaphron  now  observing  the  rout  of  his  van- 
guard, determines  to  retrieve  things,  or  perish 
in  the  attempt.  With  this  resolution  he  spurs 
towards  the  enemy ;  when  Angelica,  beholding 
his  danger  from  the  walls,  sends  a  messenger  to 
Orlando,  to  entreat  his  assistance  for  her 
father ;  reminding  him  that  he  fought  beneath 
her  eyes. 

The  author  here  leaves  the  story  suspended,       \ 
and  returns  to  Rinaldo ;  who  journeying. north- 
ward,   in   the    direction    which   Flordelis,   the 
H  4- 


1 04  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

/ 

damsel  of  Brandimart,  had  first  given  him, 
arrives  at  a  fountain ;  where  he  finds  a  cavalier 
weeping  upon  the  ground.  Having  long  ob- 
served his  grief  in  silence,  he  at  length  dis- 
mounts from  his  horse,  and  entreats  the  sorrow- 
ing knight  to  inform  him  of  its  cause. 

The  stranger  tells  him  that  his  misery  is  such 
as  can  find  no  remedy  but  in  death :  nor  does 
the  fear  of  that  oppress  him  ;  but  the  know- 
ledge that  his  death  must  be  followed  by  that 
of  another,  llinaldo  entreats  him  to  explain 
how  this  can  be,  and  prevails  on  him  to  relate 
his  history  at  length. 

This  the  stranger  began  in  the  following 
manner  :  "  About  twenty  days'  journey  from 
hence  is  situated  the  famous  city  of  Babylon, 
of  which  Tisbina  was  the  wonder ;  a  lady 
alike  renowned  for  her  charms  and  virtues. 
Of  this  treasure  I  became  the  possessor;  yet, 
having  possessed  her,  found  it  my  cruel  duty  to 
vield  her  to  another.  For  two  vears  afterwards 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  105 

I  wandered,  almost  deprived  of  my  reason ;  but 
time  at  last  brought  with  it  some  alleviation  of 
my  sorrow.  To  this  common  remedy  of  grief 
was  united  the  reflection  that  I  had  resigned 
her  to  the  most  viituous  and  most  courteous  of 
men ;  and  that,  however  dear  it  might  cost  me, 
it  was  impossible  to  repent  my  sacrifice. 

"  While  I  was  thus  wandering,  my  evil  fortune 
led  me  into  Orgagna,  whose  rightful  king,  Po- 
liphernus,  was  absent  with  the  army  of  Agrican ; 
his  kingdom  having,  during  his  absence,  fallen 
into  the  possession  of  an  evil  woman,  who  makes 
all  strangers  her  prey.  This  enchantress  (for 
such  she  is),  whose  name  is  Falerina,  has  a 
beautiful  garden,  which  is  only  open  towards 
the  east;  where  a  serpent  keeps  the  gate,  to 
whom  Falerina  gives  her  unfortunate  prisoners 
to  be  devoured.  The  names  of  these  are 
paired,  a  cavalier  and  a  lady,  according  to  the 
order  of  their  arrival ;  and  a  couple  is  thus 
every  day  offered  to  the  monster. 


106  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  T. 

"  I  was  amongst  the  prisoners  of  Falerina ; 
when  tidings  of  my  imprisonment,  for  my 
greater  misfortune,  reached  the  ears  of  Prasildo, 
the  noble  gentleman  to  whom  I  had  relin- 
quished Tisbina.  Unknown  to  me,  he  imme- 
diately set  out  for  the  enchanted  garden,  loaded 
with  treasure,  with  which  he  attempted  to 
accomplish  my  release.  All  his  endeavours, 
however,  were  vain  ;  and  desperate  of  accom- 
plishing it  in  any  other  way,  he  offered  himself 
as  a  victim  in  my  place.  This  offer  was  ac- 
cepted :  I  was  thrust  out  of  the  dungeon,  and 
he  remains  a  prisoner  in  my  stead.  This  day 
is  that  appointed  for  his  sacrifice,  which  shall 
not  be  consummated,  whilst  I  am  alive :  for  it 
is  my  resolution,  when  he  is  led  out  of  prison  to 
be  conducted  to  the  place  of  punishment,  to 
attack  his  guards  and  perish  in  his  defence. 
My  single  source  of  grief  is,  that  I  shall  not  be 
able  to  purchase  his  deliverance  with  my  life." 

Rinaldo    bids    the    stranger   be    of    better 


BOOK    I.  INNAMORATO.  107 

cheer,  and  offers  to  join  him  in  the  attack  of 
Prasildo's  guards,  to  which  Iroldo,  who  con- 
ceives this  will  be  a  useless  sacrifice  of  life,  very 
unwillingly  accedes. 

The  issue  of  the  attempt  is,  however,  very 
different  from  what  Iroldo  had  anticipated. 
The  rabble,  who  were  conducting  two  prisoners 
to  the  place  of  execution,  are  set  upon  by  the 
knights,  and  scattered  on  all  sides ;  principally 
by  the  valour  of  Rinaldo. 

In  the  male  prisoner  Iroldo  recognizes  Pra- 
sildo,  as  he  had  expected  ;  and  the  damsel  turns 
out  to  be  Flordelis.  Rinaldo  is  now  impatient 
to  crown  his  victory  with  the  destruction  of 
the  enchanted  garden ;  but  the  damsel,  his 
former  guide,  after  vainly  seeking  to  terrify  him 
by  a  description  of  the  various  monsters  and 
enchantments  by  which  it  was  guarded,  reminds 
him  of  the  imprisonment  of  Orlando,  and  his 
unaccomplished  promise  to  achieve  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  garden  of  Dragontina.  This  con- 


108  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

sideration  prevails  over  his  anxiety  to  demolish 
that  of  Falerina;  and  in  company  with  his 
two  friends  and  the  damsel,  who  all  become 
Christians  in  admiration  of  his  prowess  and  in 
gratitude  for  their  deliverance,  proceeds  on  his 
journey  towards  the  garden  of  Dragontina. 

This  however  had  been  previously  de- 
stroyed and  effaced,  even  to  the  last  vestige,  by 
the  talisman  of  Angelica. 

The  knights,  pursuing  their  journey  towards 
its  former  situation,  meet  on  their  way  a  fu- 
gitive from  Agrican's  army ;  who  gives  such  an 
account  of  the  prowess  of  a  champion  who 
fought  upon  the  part  of  Angelica,  that  Rinaldo 
is  persuaded  this  must  have  been  Orlando ; 
though  all  are  at  a  loss  to  imagine  how  he 
could  have  been  freed.  They  had  not  pro- 
ceeded much  farther,  when  they  saw  a  warrior 
under  some  trees,  to  whom  a  damsel  was  pre- 
senting a  horse.  This  warrior  Flordelis  recog- 
nized by  her  bearings  for  Marphisa,  and  who*1" 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  109 

she  especially  counselled  her  companions  to 
avoid.  They,  however,  and  more  especially 
Rinaldo,  treated  the  caution  with  contempt, 
and  made  boldly  towards  the  virago. 

As  she  is  just  mounting,  to  defy  them  to  the 
joust,  she  is  approached  by  an  elderly  man,  all 
in  tears,  who  relates  the  overthrow  of  Gala- 
phron's  vanguard,  and  entreats  her  assistance; 
which  she  promises  to  bestow,  as  soon  as  she 
shall  have  unhorsed  and  taken  the  approaching 
strangers. 

Advancing  against  them,  she  first  encounters 
and  overthrows  Iroldo  and  Prasildo  in  suc- 
cession, who  are  made  prisoners  by  some  of 
Marphisa's  followers,  that  were  in  waiting,  to- 
gether with  the  attendant  damsel.  She  next 
meets  Rinaldo,  and  breaks  upon  him  an  enor- 
mous lance,  which  had  never  yet  failed  her. 
Rinaldo  too  breaks  his  upon  the  damsel,  and 
both,  casting  away  their  broken  spears,  encoun- 
ter with  their  swords.  Here  Rinaldo's  dextrous 


110  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

skill  in  defence,  and  the  superior  temper  of 
Fusberta,  give  him  a  temporary  advantage ; 
and  in  parrying  a  blow  of  his  opponent,  he 
beats  the  faulchion  out  of  her  hand.  Full  of 
fury,  the  virago  deals  him  a  deadly  blow  on  the 
face  with  her  gauntletted  hand  in  return,  and 
makes  him  reel  in  his  saddle;  while  Rabican 
wheels  round  and  carries  off  his  half-stupefied 
rider.  Marphisa  instantly  springs  to  ground 
and  regains  her  sword,  and  Rinaldo  recovering 
himself  again  spurs  his  courser  to  the  en- 
counter. 

In  the  mean  time,  Orlando,  at  the  command 
of  Angelica,  had  galloped  to  the  assistance  of 
Galaphron,  at  the  head  of  his  brave  companions, 
and  had  again  changed  the  fortune  of  the  day. 
He  and  Agrican  now  meet  a  second  time  in 
the  medley,  and  renew  the  contest  with  more 
fury  than  before;  and  Agrican,  being  at  last 
convinced  that  it  will  be  impossible  for  him  to 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  Ill 

effect  any  thing  against  Albracca  but  by  the 
destruction  of  Orlando,  determines  to  bring  the 
battle  to  a  desperate  issue,  and  in  order  to  get 
his  adversary  into  a  place  where  they  shall  be 
secure  from  interruption,  feigns  to  fly;  and  is 
followed  by  Orlando  to  an  open  space  in  a  wood, 
in  the  middle  of  which  is  a  fountain.  Here, 
after  mutual  reproaches,  they  again  charge 
each  other  with  their  swords,  and  still  with 
doubtful  success.  Night  closes  upon  the  com- 
batants, who  have  passed  the  greater  part  of 
the  day  in  the  interchange  of  blows. 

The  two  champions  again  suspend  their 
combat  almost  of  necessity,  and  agree  upon  a 
truce  till  day-light.  They  accordingly  lie 
down  together  and  engage  in  a  friendly  con- 
versation. During  this  Agrican  makes  out  his 
antagonist  to  be  Orlando;  and  Orlando  seizes 
the  opportunity  to  attempt  his  conversion. 
Agrican,  however,  receives  the  proposal  with 


112  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

utter  contempt,  and  observes  that  love  and 
arms  are  the  only  subjects  of  conversation 
becoming  a  knight. 

This  change  of  theme  almost  necessarily 
leads  to  the  mention  of  Angelica,  and  the 
rivals,  being  kindled  by  the  discourse  which 
ensues  between  them,  into  new  animosity,  re- 
mount their  horses  and  attack  each  other  in 
the  dark. 

The  contest  is  thus  continued  with  various 
success,  and  day  breaks  upon  this  desperate 
and  unheard-of  duel.  At  length,  however,  the 
fortune  of  Orlando  prevails,  and  he  after  re- 
ceiving many  desperate  contusions  (for  wounded 
he  could  not  be),  inflicts  a  deadly  gash  in  his 
adversary's  side. 

Agrican  is  now  deserted  by  his  lofty  spirit, 
and  demands  baptism  from  the  hands  of 
Orlando : 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  113 

While  tears  descending  bathed  his  manly  face, 
The  gentle  count  dismounted  to  his  aid, 
Then  locked  the  wounded  knight  in  his  embrace, 
Upon  the  fountain's  grassy  border  laid : 
And  kiss'd  his  fading  lips,  and  sought  his  grace, 
And  of  the  mischief  done  forgiveness  prayed. 
The  speechless  Tartar  king  his  head  inclin'd, 
And  with  the  cross  his  brows  Orlando  sign'd. 

When  having  to  his  sorrow  found  that  he 
Was  breathless,  and  all  vital  warmth  was  fled  ; 
He  weened  his  gallant  spirit  was  set  free, 
And  by  the  crystal  fountain  left  him  dead ; 
Clad  as  he  was  in  armour  cap-a-pe, 
With  sword  in  hand,  and  crown  upon  his  head  : 
Then  first  towards  his  courser  turn'd  his  view, 
And  in  that  steed  the  good  Bayardo  knew. 

He  is  assured  of  this  by  a  closer  examination 
of  the  gentle  horse,  who  comes  neighing  to 
greet  the  kinsman  and  comrade  of  his  master. 


114  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK    1. 

Mounted  upon  him,  and  leading  his  own  Brig- 
liadoro,  the  count  leaves  the  place,  but  has  not 
rode  far,  before  he  hears  the  clash  of  weapons ; 
when,  having  first  secured  Brigliadoro,  he  rides 
in  the  direction  of  the  sound  ;  and,  guided  by  it, 
discovers  a  damsel,  whom  three  giants  were 
conducting,  with  a  camel  and  much  treasure, 
which  they  had  carried  away  by  force.  One  of 
the  giants  had  charge  of  the  lady ;  while  the 
other  two  maintained  a  combat  with  a  cavalier : 
but  this  story  is  broken  off,  by  the  author,  who 
hastens  to  tell  the  effects,  produced  by  the  death 
of  Agrican. 

All  was  rout  and  dismay  in  the  Tartarian 
army;  and  Galaphron  entering  the  enemy's 
camp,  set  free  Astolpho  and  the  other  prison- 
ers, who  were  detained  there.  Astolpho  is 
scarcely  presented  to  Angelica,  before  he  de- 
mands the  means  of  avenging  himself  on  the 
enemy,  and  being  furnished  with  a  horse  and 
arms,  immediately  returns  into  the  field.  Here 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  115 

he  is  fortunate  enough  to  meet  one  clad  in  his  own 
armour,  and  armed  with  the  enchanted  lance. 

Of  these  he  immediately  repossesses  himself, 
and  joins  Galaphron  and  his  troops,  who  had 
pursued  the  flying  enemy  to  the  banks  of  a  river, 
fast  by  where  Rinaldo  and  Marphisa  were  still 
engaged.  Marphisa  was  protected  by  enchant- 
ed harness,  yet  was  armed  with  but  half  a 
sword ;  which,  as  related,  was  severed  by  Fus- 
berta.  On  the  other  hand,  the  greater  part  of 
Rinaldo's  defensive  armour  had  been  hewed 
away. 

Galaphron  instantly  knows  Marphisa  by  her 
cognizance,  but  is  at  a  loss  to  distinguish  Ri- 
naldo; till,  observing  Rabican,  who  had  be- 
longed to  Argalia,  he  conceived  that  he  saw  in 
him  the  murderer  of  his  son.  Under  this 
persuasion  he  rode  at  Rinaldo,  and  smote  him 
with  all  his  force,  when  Marphisa,  enraged  at 
this  interference,  immediately  turned  her  arms 
against  her  aged  commander.  Brandimart  and 
i  2 


116  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

others  coming  up,  rescue  him  from  the  hands 
of  the  virago,  whom  they  take  for  some  war- 
rior of  the  Tartar  troops ;  when  Rinaldo,  as 
generous  as  Marphisa,  not  enduring  to  see  his 
former  enemy  overlaid  with  odds,  joins  her 
against  those  with  whom  she  is  now  engaged. 
The  main  body  of  Galaphron's  army  coming  up, 
reinforces  the  enemies  of  Marphisa ;  who  is  on 
her  part  supported  by  the  arrival  of  her  own 
division,  by  whose  succour,  joined  to  that  of 
Rinaldo,  she  is  enabled  to  repel  the  assailants. 

All  this  time,  Iroldo,  Prasildo,  and  Flordelis, 
were  standing  at  some  distance,  and  the  damsel 
of  Marphisa,  was  entertaining  them  with  a 
history  of  the  feats  and  prowess  of  her  mis- 
tress. Flordelis  is  by  this  alarmed  for  the 
safety  of  Brandimart,  one  of  the  first  who  had 
assailed  Marphisa,  and  goes  in  search  of  him 
amongst  the  warriors,  whom  the  virago  and 
Rinaldo  had  scattered,  and  who  were  making, 
in  utter  rout  and  confusion,  for  Albracca.  She, 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  117 

however,  to  her  infinite  content,  finds  him  safe 
and  standing  apart  from  the  fray,  he  having 
separated  from  the  enemies  of  Marphisa, 
after  she  was  oppressed  by  numbers.  The 
happy  lovers,  thus  re-united,  retire  into  a 
neighbouring  wood,  and  after  giving  a  loose 
to  their  mutual  tenderness  fall  asleep  upon  the 
grass. 

Here,  however,  a  new  and  unexpected  peril 
was  impending.  Their  caresses  were  unfortu- 
nately overseen  by  a  hermit,  who  dabbled  in 
necromancy,  and  who,  excited  by  the  beauties 
of  Flordelis,  determined  on  making  her  his 
prize.  Among  other  secrets,  he  was  possessed 
of  a  root,  which  had  the  faculty  of  throwing 
the  person  to  whom  it  was  applied,  provided 
it  touched  any  part  of  the  naked  body,  into  a 
profound  and  indissoluble  sleep.  Armed  with 
this,  he  approaches  Flordelis,  lifts  her  coats, 
and  applies  it  to  her  thigh.  Having  thus  so 
riveted  her  natural  slumber,  that  he  was  sure 
i  3 


1 1 8  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

she  could  not  wake  for  an  hour  to  come,  the 
hermit  snatches  her  up,  and  bears  her  off; 
being  afraid  to  try  the  virtues  of  his  root  upon 
Brandimart,  lest  he  should  awake  before  the 
charm  was  consummated. 

Brandimart  slept  soundly  till  he  was  awaken- 
ed by  a  loud  noise.  At  the  same  moment  he 
missed  Flordelis  :  yet,  notwithstanding  his  un- 
utterable grief,  approached  the  quarter,  from 
whence  the  sound  proceeded,  in  which  he  dis- 
tinguished the  cries  of  a  woman  in  distress. 

On  his  arrival  he  found  three  giants,  who 
were  conducting  a  file  of  camels.  Two  of  them 
followed,  and  another  preceded  the  string, 
leading  one,  on  which  was  seated  a  damsel, 
with  dishevelled  hair  and  weeping  bitterly.  In 
her  Brandimart  believed  that  he  recognised  Flor- 
delis, and  galloped  in  fury  against  the  ravishers. 

The  giants  instantly  prepare  to  resist  him, 
and  in  the  combat  which  follows,  he  is  put  to 
great  peril,  and  loses  his  horse. 


BOOK  I.  INN  AMOR  ATO.  119 

It  is  at  this  moment  that  Orlando,  who  had 
lately  slain  Agrican,  comes  to  his  succour.  His 
assistance  renders  the  combat  more  equal :  but 
Brandimart,  though  he  has  killed  one  of  the 
giants,  is  beaten  down  by  another.  Orlando, 
however,  avenges  him  on  his  enemy,  and  clears 
the  field.  He  has  now  leisure  to  look  to  his 
bleeding  friend,  and  finding  there  is  yet  life  in 
him,  consigns  him  to  the  care  of  the  rescued 
damsel,  who  applies  the  proper  medicaments  to 
his  wounds. 

.  Marphisa  and  Rinaldo  were  this  while  still 
in  full  pursuit  of  their  enemies,  who  found 
refuge  within  the  citadel  of  Albracca.  Marphisa 
having  chased  them  up  to  the  gates,  menaced 
Galaphron  with  vengeance;  and,  indeed,  she 
and  Rinaldo  had  now  a  common  cause.  Mar- 
phisa on  account  of  her  recent  quarrel  with 
her  former  leader;  and  Rinaldo  since  the 
fountain  of  hate  had  disposed  him  to  enmity 
with  Angelica,  and  the  oath,  he  had  sworn  on 
i  4 


120  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

winning  Rabican,  bound  him  to  take  vengeance 
on  Truffaldino,  one  of  her  defenders.  They 
accordingly  sit  down  before  the  place,  and, 
on  the  second  day,  Rinaldo  appears  beneath 
the  walls,  sounds  his  horn  and  defies  TruiTal- 
dino,  king  of  Baldacca  by  the  titles  of  traitor, 
renegado  and  tyrant. 

There  were  at.  this  time,  within  the  fortress, 
many  warriors  who  had  sworn  to  defend  him 
against  Sacripant  and  Torindo,  whom  he  had 
imprisoned,  and  against  all  others  whatsoever. 
Truffaldino  calls  on  these  to  fulfil  their  engage- 
ment, and  several  knights,  with  the  traitor  king 
in  the  midst  of  them,  descend  from  the  citadel 
to  do  battle  with  Rinaldo,  on  his  behalf. 

These  were  the  brothers  Gryphon  and 
Aquilant,  who  had  enchanted  horse  and  armour ; 
Uberto,  Adrian,  and  Clarion.  They  attack 
Rinaldo  singly  and  successively.  He  soon 
defeats  the  two  first  comers,  but  he  finds  him- 
self better  matched  with  Gryphon  of  the 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  121 

enchanted  arms ;  with  whom  he  engages  in  a 
long  and  doubtful  battle,  after  a  fruitless  ex- 
postulation and  attempt  to  negotiate  on  the  part 
of  Gryphon. ^) 

Leaving  these,  the  author  returns  to  Brandi- 
mart ;  who,  restored  to  life  by  the  skill  of  the 
damsel,  whom  he  and  Orlando  rescued  from 
the  giants,  is  rendered  desperate  by  the  dis- 
covery, that  she  is  not  Flordelis.  He  curses 
the  hour  in  which  he  was  rescued  from  death, 
as  well  as  that  in  which  he  was  born,  and 
recapitulates  all  the  circumstances  of  his  life  in 
the  following  apostrophe : 

"  Thou  took'st  me,  Fortune,  from  a  royal  dome, 
"  (Such  early  blow  thy  deadly  malice  gave ;) 
"  And  I,  thus  ravished  from  my  noble  home, 
"  In  other  lands  was  sold  to  be  a  slave ; 
"  And  now,  long  doomed  in  foreign  climes  to  roam, 
"  But  her  remember  to  whose  breasts  I  clave  ; 
"  (My  father's  and  my  country's  name  effaced,) 
"  My  mother's  in  my  mind  is  only  traced. 


122  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

"  Never  did  evil  destiny  so  lour, 

"  As  upon  me ;  to  early  bondage  sold, 

"  With  one,  entitled  Lord  o'  the  Sylvan  Tower : 

"  When,  but  to  make  me  suffer  sevenfold, 

"  Softened  awhile  appear'd  the  faithless  Power  ; 

"  And  the  good  Master  of  the  Sylvan  hold 

"  Freed  me ;  and  having  none  his  name  to  bear, 

"  Of  his  broad  lands  and  living  made  me  heir. 

;<  But  Fortune  had  so  marked  me  for  her  prey, 
"  That  to  fill  up  the  bitter  cup  of  woe, 
"  Fairest  among  the  fair,  a  damsel  gay 
"  She  chose  in  her  displeasure  to  bestow ; 
"  Simply  to  take  the  precious  prize  away. 
"  Then  can  I  choose  but  sink  beneath  the  blow  ? 
"  O  thou,  that  hast  renewed  my  fleeting  breath, 
"  Undo  thy  work,  and  give  me  back  to  death." 

Orlando,  and  the  charitable  damsel  sympathise 
deeply  in  his  grief;  and  the  lady,  to  prove, 
at  least,  that  he  was  not  single  in  his  sorrows, 
begins  the  narration  of  her  own  adventures. 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  123 

She  informs  him,  that  she  was  daughter  and 
heir  of  the  king  of  the  Distant  Isles,  where  all 
the  treasure  of  the  earth  is  accumulated.  Gifted 
with  beauty  and  destined  to  inherit  such  riches, 
two  lovers  came  to  demand  her  in  marriage  on 
the  same  day,  Ordauro  and  Folderico ;  the  one 
handsome  and  the  other  more  than  seventy 
years  old.  The  first  distinguished  by  his 
prowess,  the  second  by  his  wisdom  and  riches. 
The  damsel's  father  inclined  hi  favour  of  Fol- 
derico ;  but  the  damsel  hoped  by  a  sleight  to 
transfer  herself  to  Ordauro. 

She  had  accordingly  obtained  a  boon  from 
the  monarch  ;  and  this  was,  that  no  one  should 
have  her  to  wife,  who  had  not  previously 
vanquished  her  in  the  foot-race.  By  this,  she 
considered  herself  as  secure  of  success;  but 
Folderico  countermined  her  stratagem.  Being 
paired  with  her  in  the  course,  he  had  recourse 
to  the  expedient  of  dropping  three  golden 
apples,  and  the  damsel  was  distanced  by  the 


124-  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

same  means  as  Atalanta.  Thus  the  old  man 
won  his  wife ;  who,  however,  determined  on 
taking  such  vengeance  as  was  in  her  power. 

Here  the  lady,  who  was  her  own  histo- 
rian, observed  Brandimart's  distraction ;  who 
being  charged  with  it,  confessed  that  he  had 
neither  eyes  nor  ears  but  for  Flordelis,  and 
that  he  should  never  regain  possession  of  him- 
self, till  she  was  found.  On  this  the  damsel 
and  Orlando,  who  was  mounted  on  Bayardo, 
and  had  resigned  his  Brigliadoro  to  Brandi- 
mart,  as  before  related,  offer  to  accompany  him 
in  an  attempt  to  recover  her,  and  they  imme- 
diately proceed  upon  their  search. 

Flordelis,  in  the  interval,  had  been  carried  off 
by  the  hermit  to  a  cave ;  where  she  woke  at 
the  moment  that  a  lion,  who  harboured  there, 
sprang  forth  to  punish  the  intrusion  of  the 
ravisher :  who  instantly  dropt  his  plunder  and 
fled.  The  beast,  however,  passing-by  the  prof- 
fered prey,  follows  and  tears  in  pieces  the 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  125 

hermit  who  had  cast  it  down.  Flordelis,  while 
he  is  thus  employed,  escapes. 

She,  however,  only  gains  a  present  respite 
from  misfortune ;  for,  flying  at  random,  she 
falls  into  the  hands  of  a  hairy  savage  in  the 
forest,  who  binds  her  to  a  tree  with  twigs ;  and 
then,  gazing  stupidly  upon  her,  casts  himself 
down  at  a  little  distance. 

Brandimart  was  this  while  in  pursuit  of  her, 
in  the  same  wood,  accompanied  by  Orlando 
and  the  damsel  of  the  golden  apples,  who  was 
seated  upon  his  courser's  croup.  Orlando  now 
entreats  that  she  will  finish  her  story,  which  she 
continues. 

Folderico  who  had  won  the  damsel,  carried 
her  to  a  tower,  which  he  possessed  upon  the 
sea-shore,  called  Altamura,  where  he  kept  her, 
together  with  his  treasure,  under  lock  and  key, 
and  utterly  secluded  from  the  sight  of  man.  * 

*  As  the  author  is  indebted  to  Greek  fable  for  the  begin- 
ning, so  he  is  to  Norman  story  for  this  subsequent  adventure, 


THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

But  what  will  not  love  ?  Ordauro  who  was 
also  rich,  though  not  so  wealthy  as  Folderico, 
purchased  a  sumptuous  palace  in  the  imme- 
diate neighbourhood  of  Altamura,  and  at  an 
immense  cost  made  a  subterraneous  passage 
from  his  palace  to  the  damsel's  prison ;  by 
which  he  visited  and  enjoyed  her  without 
danger.  At  last,  however,  the  lovers,  tired  of 
the  restraint  under  which  they  carried  on  their 
intercourse,  and  emboldened  by  success,  de- 
termined to  make  a  desperate  effort  to  escape. 

With  this  view  Ordauro  communicates  to 
Folderico  news  of  his  approaching  nuptials  with 
another  daughter  of  Monodontes ;  for  so  was 
called  the  king  of  the  Distant  Isles ;  and  invites 
him,  as  his  brother-in-law,  to  the  marriage 
feast.  Folderico  having  carefully  secured  the 
gates  of  his  tower,  goes  thither,  and  rinding  his 

which  is  taken,  with  some  variation,  from  an  old  fabliau. 
See  Barbasan's  or  Le  Grand's  fabliaux.  The  story  would 
seem  to  be  of  Eastern  origin. 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  127 

wife  installed  as  bride,  becomes  ferocious  at 
the  sight.  Ordauro,  however,  with  great  diffi- 
culty, succeeds  in  appeasing  him,  by  the  assur- 
ance that  she  was  a  twin-sister  of  his  own  wife, 
to  whom  she  bore  a  perfect  resemblance ;  and, 
by  bidding  him  return  to  his  tower  and  satisfy 
himself  of  the  fact.  The  means  of  proof  appeared 
decisive,  and  accordingly  Folderico  accepts  them. 
He  finds  his  locks  as  they  were  left,  and  his  wife, 
(who  had  returned  by  the  subterraneous  passage 
and  changed  her  dress,)  alone  and  overcome 
with  melancholy.  He  again  takes  the  way, 
which  was  somewhat  circuitous,  to  the  palace  of 
Ordauro,  and  again  finds  her  there,  shining  in 
all  the  festivity  of  a  bride.  He  can  no  longer 
resist  the  conviction  that  the  two  persons,  whom 
he  had  seen,  were  different  women ;  lays  aside 
his  distrust,  and  even  offers  to  convoy  the 
bridegroom  and  his  bride  on  a  part  of  their 
journey  towards  Ordauro's  natural  home,  to 
which  he  was  returning. 


128  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK   I. 

A  certain  advantage  was  thus  gained ;  since 
Folderico  never  left  his  tower,  though  locked, 
for  above  an  hour,  and  consequently  would 
have  soon  discovered  his  loss,  if  the  lovers  had 
eloped  in  secret. 

The  party  set  out  together ;  and  at  the  end 
of  the  first  day's  journey,  Folderico  turns  back 
and  gallops  to  his  tower.  He  is  now  first 
assured  of  his  disgrace.  Full  of  rage,  he  pur- 
sues his  rival ;  but  does  not  dare  make  any 
attempt  to  recover  his  wife,  till  he  has  separated 
Ordauro  from  his  adherents.  Having  effected 
this  by  a  stratagem,  he  attacks  his  retainers, 
and  repossesses  himself  of  the  lady.  He  is 
destined  to  a  short  possession  of  the  prize;  for 
he  is,  on  his  retui-n,  beset  by  giants,  who  seize 
her,  and  all  his  treasure ;  which  the  wife  was 
carrying  off  as  a  dowry  to  her  new  lord.  He 
himself  escapes. 

Orlando  listened  with  curiosity  to  this  re- 
lation :  but  Brandimart,  who  only  thought  upon 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  129 

Flordelis,  separated  from  his  companions  in 
order  to  pursue  a  separate  search.  Whilst  he 
is  engaged  in  this,  he  hears  her  cries,  and,  di- 
rected by  them,  finds  her  bound  to  the  tree. 
He  dismounts  from  his  horse  to  assist  her,  and 
is  about  to  loosen  her  bonds,  when  he  is  at- 
tacked by  the  savage,  armed  with  a  rustic  club 
and  shield.  This  strange  woodman  is  described 
as  gifted  with  extraordinary  strength  of  body,  and 
distinguished  by  some  strange  propensities : 

He  dwelt  in  woods,  and  on  their  produce  fed, 
And  drank  the  limpid  brook  which  bubbled  by : 
And  (such  his  nature)  ever,  it  is  said, 
Wept,  when  he  saw  a  clear  and  cloudless  sky : 
Since,  fearful  of  the  sign,  he  lived  in  dread, 
That  tempest,  clouds,  and  cold,  and  rain  were  nigh, 
But  joy'd  in  thunder  and  in  hail ;  since  he 
Hoped  warmer  suns  and  happier  days  to  see. 

This  savage,  but  for  the  exclamation  of  Flor- 
delis, would  have  surprised  Brandimart  in  the 
act  of  untying  her.  Being  warned  by  her  of  his 


130  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

danger,  he  guarded  himself  against  his  attacks, 
which  required  all  his  skill  and  courage  to  repel. 
He  indeed  hewed  in  pieces  the  rustic  weapon 
with  which  he  was  armed ;  but  the  monster, 
closing  with  him,  grasped  him  in  his  arms, 
and  attempted  to  cast  him  down  a  precipice, 
when  he  fortunately  escaped  from  his  embrace. 
The  savage  finding  himself  foiled  in  this 
hope,  and  weaponless,  now  flew  to  a  sapling, 
which  he  was  trying  to  pluck  up  by  its  roots, 
when  the  knight  killed  him  while  engaged  in  the 
attempt.  Brandimart  now  releases  Flordelis, 
seats  her  on  his  horse's  croup,  and  goes  in  pur- 
suit of  Orlando,  from  whom  he  had  separated. 

Whilst  he  is  thus  engaged,  the  author  re- 
sumes the  story  of  Albracca.  Rinaldo  was  left 
in  close  combat  with  Gryphon,  whom  he  at  last 
stunned  with  a  desperate  blow.  When  Aqui- 
lant,  believing  his  brother  killed,  took  up  the 
conqueror.  Gryphon,  however,  reviving  from 
the  effects  of  the  stroke,  returned  to  the  charge. 


BOOK  I.  1NNAMORATO.  131 

Marphisa  seeing  Rinaldo  thus  oppressed  with 
odds,  came  to  his  assistance ;  and  others 
again  of  those  sworn  to  defend  Truffaldino, 
who  was  an  unwilling  spectator  of  the  fray, 
took  part  against  her  and  Rinaldo.  Orlando 
was,  this  while,  pursuing  his  way  in  search  of 
Brandimart,  while  Brandimart  as  vainly  sought 
him  through  the  forest. 

Whilst  Orlando  is  thus  engaged,  he  sees  a 
damsel  issue  from  a  wood  upon  a  palfrey,  who 
bears  a  book  and  horn.  Addressing  herself  to 
the  count,  she  tells  him,  that,  if  he  is  what  his 
countenance  bespeaks  him,  the  fairest  adventure 
awaits  him,  which  ever  was  achieved  by  knight; 
and  which,  indeed,  had  hitherto  foiled  the 
prowess  of  all  who  had  attempted  it,  who 
remained  prisoners  in  the  enchanted  garden, 
which  she  invites  him  (if  he  has  the  courage 
sufficient  for  such  an  adventure)  to  attack. 
Orlando  accepts  the  proposal  with  rapture  ; 
the  damsel  presents  him  with  the  book  and 
K  2 


132  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

horn;  both  necessary  for  the  achievement  of 
the  enterprize;  and,  having  instructed  him  in 
the  use  of  them,  retires  to  a  distance. 

Orlando  accordingly,  having  first  disposed  of 
the  other  damsel  whom  he  carried  behind  him, 
sounds  the  bugle,  and  a  rock  opens,  from  which 
issue  two  ferocious  bulls,  with  horns  of  iron,  and 
strangely  coloured  hair  turned  contrary  to  the 
natural  grain : 
And  sometimes  green ;  now  black,  now  white  it 

seemed, 
Now  yellow,  and  now  red  ;  and  ever  gleamed. 

Orlando  learned  from  the  book,  by  whose 
rules  he  was  to  proceed,  that  he  was  to  bind  these 
beasts ;  and  this  done,  was  to  enter  the  opening, 
from  which  they  sallied,  and  plow  with  them  the 
space  within.  Such  was  to  be  his  first  labour. 

The  bulls  long  maintained  a  severe  fight  with 
the  champion,  and  often  tossed,  though  they 
could  not  gore  him :  at  length  he  so  fatigued 
them  by  repeated  blows  from  Durindana,  (for 
their  skin  was  as  impenetrable  as  his  own,)  that 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  133 

he  was  enabled  to  master  them,  seized  them  by 
their  horns,  and  bound  them  separately,  with 
Bayardo's  bridle,  to  an  adjoining  column,  which 
was  the  monument  of  the  king  Bavardo.  He 
then  made  a  plow  of  Durindana,  the  point  of 
which  served  as  a  share  and  the  hilt  as  a  handle, 
yoked  the  bulls  to  the  instrument,  and  having 
torn  off  the  limb  of  a  tree  for  a  whip, 
ploughed  the  field,  as  he  was  directed.  The 
work  accomplished,  he  loosed  his  beasts,  who 
ran  roaring  through  the  wood,  and  disappeared 
behind  a  mountain. 

Orlando  now  devoutly  thanks  God  for  his 
first  success,  and  the  damsel  of  the  book  and 
horn,  having  dismounted  from  the  palfrey  in  the 
meadow,  wreaths  her  brows  with  the  flowers 
which  it  produced.  Orlando,  however,  does 
not  allow  himself  a  longer  truce,  but  sounds  a 
second  challenge  on  his  enchanted  bugle. 

Upon  the  second  sound,  the  earth  trembles, 
and  a  neighbouring  hill  vomits  forth  flame; 
which  is  followed  by  the  appearance  of  a  fiery 
K  3 


134-  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

dragon.  The  damsel  of  the  golden  apples  is 
now  about  to  fly ;  but  she  of  the  book  and  horn 
bids  her 

• "  in  faith  and  hope,  stand  near, 

"  For  only  he  who  proves  the  quest  need  fear." 

The  damsel  of  the  golden  apples,  who  re- 
sented Orlando's  coldness  during  their  journey 
through  the  forest,  observes  she  is  glad  that  he 
only  is  in  danger,  and  that  she  cannot  regret 
what  may  happen  to  him ; 

"  In  that  there  lives  not  a  more  worthless  wight." 
This  reproach  reaches  Orlando's  ears,  as  he  con- 
sults his  book.  This  guide  taught  him  that  his 
only  means  of  safety  consisted  in  cutting  off  the 
dragon's  head,  before  he  was  consumed  by  the 
flame  and  venom,  which  issued  from  her  mouth. 
The  head  cut  off,  he  was  to  perform  the  labour 
of  Jason,  and  sow  the  field  in  which  he  had 
laboured  with  the  serpent's  teeth.  From  these 
was  to  spring  a  crop  of  armed  men ;  and,  if  he 
saved  himself  from  their  swords,  he  might  es- 
teem himself  the  flower  of  chivalry. 


BOOK  K  INNAMORATO.  135 

He  has  scarce  learned  his  lesson,  when  the 
serpent  is  upon  him.  Orlando  protected  him- 
self from  her  assault  with  his  shield ;  but  this 
and  all  his  armour  was  consumed  by  the  flame 
which  she  vomited  forth.  He  contends  long 
with  the  monster,  enveloped  in  fire  and  smoke, 
but  at  last  separates  her  head  at  a  blow.  He 
immediately  draws  the  teeth,  puts  them  into  his 
helmet,  and  sows  them  as  the  book  had  enjoined. 
The  effect  followed  which  had  been  foretold. 

First,  feathers  sprouting  from  the  ground  appear, 
By  little  and  by  little ;  then  a  crest ; 
And  next  is  seen  the  bust  of  cavalier, 
Furnish'dwith  manly  limbs,  and  spreading  chest. 
Foot  in  the  front,  and  horsemen  in  the  rear ; 
They  rise  and  shout,  and  lay  the  lance  in  rest ; 
And,  drums  and  trumpets  sounding  to  the  charge, 
Level  the  spear,  and  lift  the  covering  targe. 

Orlando,    however,   though  he  had   neither 
lance  nor  shield  left  him,  soon  reaps  this  har- 
K  4 


136  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

vest  with  Durindana ;  and  the  seed  of  the  ser- 
pent thus  springs  and  perishes  in  a  day. 

The  victory  achieved,  he  blows  the  third 
and  last  blast  upon  his  horn,  which  the  author 
thus  prefaces : 

These  dragons  and  these  gardens,  made  by  spell, 
And  dog,  and  book  by  witch  or  wizard  writ, 
And  savage  hairy  man,  and  giant  fell, 
And  human  face,  to  monstrous  form  ill  fit, 
Are  food  for  ignorance,  which  you  may  well 
Decypher,  that  are  blest  with  shrewder  wit : 
Then  muse  upon  the  doctrine  sage  and  sound, 
Which  lies  conceal'd  beneath  this  rugged  ground.* 

Such  matter  as  is  excellent  and  rare, 

And  things  of  scent  or  savour,  rich  or  fine, 
In  open  hand  we  do  not  loosely  bear ; 
Nor  cast  such  pearls  to  be  defiled  of  swine. 
Nature,  great  mistress,  teaches  better  care, 
Who  loves  the  flower  with  fencing  thorns  to  twine ; 
And  covers  well  her  fruits,  and  things  of  mark  ; 
The  kernel  with  its  stone,  the  tree  with  bark  ; 

*  The  Italian  reader  will  here  again  trace  some  lines  of  Dante. 


BOOK  I.  INNAMOKATO.  137 


A  safe  defence  from  bird,  and  beast,  and  storm  ; 
And  has  conceal'd  the  yellow  gold  i'  the  ground, 
Jewels,  and  what  is  rare  for  tint  or  form ; 
That  these  may  be  with  cost  and  labour  found. 
And  vain  and  witless  is  th'  unwary  swarm 
Who  show   their  wealth,  if  they   with   wealth 

abound, 
The  mark,  at  which  knave,   thief,  and  cheater 

level ; 
And  so  by  matchless  folly  tempt  the  devil. 


As  duly  would  it  seem  to  square  with  reason, 
That  good  should  be  with  toil  and  trouble  bought. 
And  to  obtain  it  otherwise  were  treason, 
Than  by  activity  of  deed  and  thought. 
'Tis  thus  we  see,  that  art  and  labour  season 
The  victual,  which  without  their  aid  is  nought ; 
And  simple  viands,  in  their  nature  good, 
Convert  to  sweeter,  and  more  savoury  food. 


138  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

If  Homer's  Odyssey  appear  compounded 
Of  lying  legends,  deem  not  these  unfit ; 
Nor,  reading  of  some  god  or  goddess  wounded, 
Let  this  aught  scandalize  your  weaker  wit : 
For  who  the  secrets  of  the  sage  has  sounded, 
Well  knows,  that  for  the  sage,  the  poet  writ ; 
And  veils  a  different  thing,  from  that  which  lies 
Open  to  them,  who  see  but  with  their  eyes. 

But  stop  not  ye,  content,  at  the  outer  rind  ; 
Be  not  as  these,  but  seek  what  is  within ; 
For  if  no  better  nourishment  you  find, 
You  will  have  made  small  progress  for  your  sin  , 
And  see  in  these  strange  emblems  ill-divined, 
But  sick  men's  dreams,  and  fables.     Then  begin 
A  better  task,  their  secret  meaning  measure, 
And  turn  the  stubborn  soil  for  hidden  treasure. 

Returning  to  the  story,  Orlando  sounded 
his  horn  a  third  time ;  and,  on  the  echo  dying 
away,  was  disappointed  by  the  appearance  of 
a  little  white  bitch-hound. 

This,  the  damsel  of  the  book,  in  hopes  to 
stay  the  count,  who  was  now  disposed  to  depart, 


BOOK  I.  1NNAMORATO.  139 

assured  him  was  that  which  was  to  crown  his 
toils. 

She  explains  herself,  by  informing  him,  that 
in  a  neighbouring  lake  is  an  island,  the  resi- 
dence of  the  Fata,  Morgana,  whom  God  has  set 
over  riches ;  which  she 

"  Distributes  in  the  bowels  of  the  mount, 

"  Whence  they  are  dug  with  long  fatigue  and  pain ; 
"  And  hides  them  in  the  river  and  the  fount, 
"  In  India ;  where  ants  work  the  golden  vein. 
"  Nor  let  the  tale  seem  strange,  which  I  recount, 
"  Since  two  fair  fishes  feed  upon  the  grain. 
"  Now  good  Morgana  the  bitch-hound  has  sent 
"  To  guerdon  thee  with  treasure  and  content : 

"  The  wondrous  Fay,  for  various  riches  vaunted, 
"  Mistress  of  all  that  seas  or  earth  enfold, 
"  Is  owner  of  a  hind,  in  this  enchanted ; 
"  That  she  is  white,  and  armed  with  horns  of  gold ; 
"  And  that  by  her  no  forest  long  is  haunted, 
"  Still  restless  and  impatient  of  a  hold. 
"  Her  many  hunters  vainly  seek  to  catch  ; 

"  But  you  may  take  her  with  this  little  brach. 
*   K  6 


140  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

"  Who  soon  shall  rouse  her  from  her  secret  lair, 
"  Yelping  upon  the  trail  with  questing  cry : 
"  Thou  shalt  pursue,  thro'  holt  or  desert  bare, 
"  Though  hound  and  hart  more  swift  than  arrow 

fly: 

"  Six  days  shalt  thou  pursue  the  flying  pair ; 
"  But  on  the  seventh  cease  the  chase  to  ply. 
"  Since  in  a  fount  the  milk-white  hind  shall  soil,* 
"  And  thou  be  guerdon'd  for  thy  tedious  toil. 

"  Six  times  a-day  (such  riches  shalt  thou  measure) 
"  She  sheds  her  horns  ;  which  yield  an  hundred 

weight. 

"  And  thus  shaltihou  collect  such  mighty  treasure 
"  As  may  defy  the  wit  of  man  to  rate  ; 
"  Thrice  blest,  if  countless  wealth  can  purchase 

pleasure  ; 

"  To  this  perchance  deserve  a  happier  fate  ; 
"  And  with  the  hind  obtain  what  is  above 
"  That  precious  prize,  the  beauteous  fairy's  love." 

*  The  technical  phrase  for  a  stag  taking  the  water :  as  he 
usually  does  when  distressed.  Hence  our  view-hollo  of  "  Tayo ! " 
for  the  stag,  is  taken  from  the  old  French  cry  of"  Taihors,"  or 
«'  out  of  the  swamp !"  as  our  "  Tally  lio !"  for  the  fox,  is  derived 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  14-1 

Orlando  however  treats  the  temptation  with 
contempt,  and  unwillingly  seating  the  damsel  of 
the  golden  apples  behind  him,  casts  down  the 
book  and  horn,  and  departs. 

Proceeding  with  her,  he  arrives  at  a  bridge, 
where  he  meets  with  an  armed  cavalier,  who 
claims  the  damsel  as  his  own.  This  turns  out 
to  be  Ordauro,  to  whom  Orlando  resigns  her 
with  great  satisfaction,  and  pursues  his  journey 
to  Albracca. 

Here  the  strife  was  still  continued  between 
Rinaldo  and  Marphisa,  united  on  the  one 
part;  and  Gryphon  and  Aquilant,  and  all 
those  confederated  to  defend  Truffaldino,  on 
the  other.  Rinaldo  having  in  this  gained  some 

from  "  Taillis  hors .'"  or  "  out  of  cover  !"  which  last  etymology 
we  learn  from  Lady  Juliana  Berners.  All  our  hunting 
phraseology  indeed  is  Norman  ;  even  where  we  should  be  least 
inclined  to  trace  it  to  such  a  source.  Thus  the  cry  of  "  Hi- 
loicks!  Hiloicks  !"  used  by  us  in  trying  a  cover,  we  find  in  her 
precepts  to  be  "  Illocques,  Illocques  !"  or  "  There  !  There  !" 
The  Normans  indeed  formed  both  our  hunting  code  and  hunt- 
ing vocabulary.  See  many  well  founded  allusions  to  this  in 
Ivanhoe. 


14>2  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

advantage  over  his  immediate  opponents,  Truf- 
faldino, who  was  present,  fled  into  the  citadel. 
This  put  a  short  stop  to  hostilities,  and  the 
combat  was  suspended  till  the  ensuing  day ; 
when  Truffaldino  was  to  be  again  produced, 
and  to  abide  its  issue. 

In  this  interval  two  important  circum- 
stances occur.  Astolpho  (who  was  Agrican's 
prisoner,  when  those,  who  entered  Albracca 
with  Angelica,  took  the  engagement  to  defend 
Truffaldino)  learning  from  Gryphon,  that  Ri- 
naldo  had  been  his  antagonist,  changes  sides, 
and  goes  over  to  his  cousin. 

To  counterbalance  this  loss  to  the  besieged, 
Orlando  arrives  in  Albracca,  and  is  received 
with  open  arms  by  Angelica. 

On  the  ensuing  day  the  combat  is  renewed 
between  the  former  parties  with  the  addition 
of  Astolpho  on  one  side,  and  of  Orlando  on 
the  other.  In  this  Orlando  and  Rinaldo  single 
each  other  out,  and  after  bitter  reproaches, 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO. 

Rinaldo  reproving  Orlando  for  his  defence  of 
a  traitour,  and  Orlando  twitting  Rinaldo  for 
his  robberies  and  evil  life,  engage  in  a  furious 
combat;  but  here  Orlando  is  ill  seconded  by 
Bayardo,  who  will  not  advance  against  his  own 
master. 

At  this  moment  Rinaldo  sees  Truffaldino 
treacherously  unhorse  Astolpho,  and  pursuing 
him,  (for  the  traitour  flies  upon  his  approach,) 
comes  up  with  him  before  he  is  overtaken  by 
his  defenders,  makes  him  prisoner,  and  ties  him 
by  the  feet  to  Rabican's  tail.  With  the  wretch 
thus  suspended,  he  gallops  off  at  full  speed; 
the  superior  swiftness  of  Rabican  rendering  all 
interference  on  the  behalf  of  Truffaldino  impos- 
sible ;  and  drags  him  at  his  horse's  heels  till 
he  is  dashed  in  pieces. 

Whilst  he  is  running  this  cruel  course, 
Rinaldo  thunders  out  reproaches  and  threats 
against  the  abettors  of  the  tyrant ;  and  Orlando, 
who  had  now  obtained  his  own  horse,  Briglia- 


144  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

doro,  through  the  arrival  of  Brandimart,  who 
joins  him,  renews  his  battle  with  Rinaldo  on 
personal  grounds,  the  others  considering  them- 
selves released  from  the  necessity  of  fighting 
him  by  the  death  of  Truffaldino. 

Night  however  separates  the  two  combatants, 
Rinaldo  returning  to  Marphisa's  camp,  and 
Orlando  to  the  citadel  of  Albracca. 

Here  Orlando  is  received  with  all  love  and 
honour  by  Angelica  ;  who  is,  however,  sighing 
in  her  heart  for  Rinaldo,  and,  with  this  view, 
declares  she  will  attend  the  duel  which  was  to 
be  renewed  on  the  morrow,  and  sends  Sacri- 
pant,  delighted  with  the  task,  to  demand  a  safe- 
conduct  for  her  from  Marphisa.  Previously 
however  to  Orlando's  taking  the  field,  she  de- 
mands of  him  a  boon  ;  swearing  she  will  make 
him  lord  of  her  person,  if  he  will  promise  to 
undertake  an  adventure  upon  her  bidding;  and 
avails  herself  of  this  promise,  the  next  day, 
when  the  strife  is  at  its  hottest ;  telling  Orlando 


BOOK  I.  INNAMORATO.  145 

that  enough  has  been  done  for  honour,  and 
entreating  him  now  to  depart  upon  the  promised 
quest ;  which  was  no  other  than  the  destruction 
of  Falerina's  garden  hi  the  kingdom  of  Orgagna. 

The  combatants  being  separated,  and  Orlando  /] 
departed,  Angelica  seeks  to  communicate  with 
Rinaldo,  but  in  vain ;  and  returns  disconsolate 
to  Albracca,  from  whence  she  sends  a  damsel 
to  Rinaldo  with  Bayardo,  whom  Orlando  had 
dispatched  to  that  fortress  on  receiving  Brig- 
liadoro  from  Brand  imart ;  but  Rinaldo  remains 
unmoved  by  these  various  acts  of  kindness. 

The  scene  is  now  again  changed,  and  Or- 
lando, whom  Angelica  had  dispatched  upon 
what  she  conceived  a  fatal  enterprise,  pursues 
his  way  towards  Orgagna. 

He  arrives  at  a  bridge,  on  which  is  seen  a 
cavalier,  armed  at  all  points,  and  mounted,  as  if 

for  its  defence.     Near  this  was  seen  a  beautiful 

> 
damsel,  suspended  by  her  hair  to  a  pine,  and 

weeping  bitterly.     Orlando  immediately  moves 


146  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

to  her  relief;  but  is  exhorted  by  the  armed 
cavalier  to  leave  her  to  a  fate,  which  she  had 
well  deserved  by  her  wickedness.  In  proof  of 
which  he  proceeds  to  relate  her  adventures. 

"  My  name,"  pursued  the  knight,  "  is  Uldano, 
and  hers  Origilla.  We  were  both  born  in  the  city 
of  Bactria,  and  I,  from  earliest  infancy,  conceived 
a  passion  for  her,  which  grew  with  my  growth, 
and  derived  strength  even  from  her  fickleness. 
Another  youth,  of  the  name  of  Lucrino,  loved 
her  equally  with  myself;  and  both  were  so  well 
kept  hi  play  by  her  artifices,  that  each  believed 
himself  to  be  favoured. 

"  Being  at  length  impatient  of  longer  delay, 
I  threw  myself  at  her  feet,  and  entreated  her  to 
take  compassion  on  my  torments.  She  appear- 
ed to  meet  my  passion  half-way ;  but  told  me, 
there  was  but  one  mode  in  which  I  could  gra- 
tify my  desires  without  the  sacrifice  of  her 
honour,  and  suggested  the  following  stratagem 
as  the  means. 


BOOK  I.  INNAMOIIATO.  147 

"  *  You  know,'  said  the  damsel,  *  that  my  bro- 
ther, Corbirio,  though  scarcely  arrived  at  man- 
hood, was  slain  by  Oringo  in  combat,  a  man  grown, 
and  trained  to  arms.  To  avenge  this  treason, 
my  father  has  offered  a  large  reward  to  him  who 
shall  take  the  murderer,  and  would  soon  find 
one  who  would  undertake  to  execute  his  revenge. 
You  shall  bear  the  cognizance  of  Oringo,  shall 
suffer  yourself  to  be  taken,  and  thus  procure 
admission  into  my  father's  house.  Here  you 
shall  receive  the  reward  of  your  constancy,  and 
I  will  afterwards  effect  your  deliverance.' 

"  I,  senseless  as  I  was,  gave  into  the  snare, 
and  had  scarce  departed,  in  order  to  assume  the 
device  and  arms  she  suggested,  when  the  trai- 
tress called  to  her  my  rival,  Lucrino,  and  told 
him,  that  now  was  the  time  to  win  her  by  the 
death  or  capture  of  the  murderer  of  her  bro- 
ther; for  she  knew  his  motions,  and  where  he  was 
to  be  found,  indicating  to  him  the  place  whither 
she  had  sent  me  with  his  borrowed  ensigns. 
L  2 


148  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  I. 

"  To  complete  her  purpose  more  effectually, 
she  furnished  him  also  with  the  ensigns  of  a 
third  lover,  named  Ariantes,  to  w\iom  her  father 
had  promised  her  in  marriage,  on  condition  of 
his  avenging  him  on  Oringo. 

"  In  the  mean  time,  this  Ariantes  met  and 
attacked  me,  taking  me  by  my  cognizance 
for  Oringo,  and  I' yielded  myself  a  prisoner, 
after  little  resistance,  in  the  hope  of  the  reward 
promised  by  Origilla. 

"  Lucrino,  who  was,  this  while,  dispatched 
by  her  in  pursuit  of  me,  fell  in  with  the  real 
Oringo,  and  both  were  desperately  wounded  in 
the  combat  which  ensued.  Lucrino  had,  how- 
ever, strength  enough  left  to  master  his  opposite, 
and  was  bringing  him  away  prisoner,  when  he 
was  met  by  the  father  of  Origilla,  who  at  first 
judged  him  to  be  Ariantes;  but  when  unde- 
ceived on  a  nearer  approach,  offered  him  his 
daughter  in  marriage,  whom  he  had  pres 
viously  promised  to  Ariantes  on  the  same  con- 


B<>OK  I.  1NNAMORATO.  149 

ditions,    provided    he  would    deliver    up   his 
prisoner. 

!  The  offer  was  scarcely  accepted,  when 
Ariantes  arrived,  bringing  in  me,  disguised  in 
the  arms  of  Oringo ;  and  the  whole  stratagem 
was  now  apparent. 

"  The  clearing  up  this  led  to  new  contests : 
for  Ariantes  complained  of  Lucrino's  having 
taken  his  bearings ;  and  Oringo  thought  him- 
self wronged  in  that  his  had  been  usurped  by 
me. 

"'Now,  to  wear  the  ensigns  of  another  is 
death  by  our  law,  unless  the  penalty  be  re- 
mitted by  him  who  has  been  offended ;  and  the 
cause  being  brought  before  the  king,  we  were 
all  condemned ;  Oringo,  for  having  slain  (as 
before  told)  Corbino,  who  was  a  youth  scarcely 
capable  of  defending  himself;  Ariantes,  for 
having  bargained  away  the  life  of  another;  and 
Lucrino  and  myself,  for  having  usurped  arms 
and  ensigns,  which  we  were  not  entitled  to  wear. 
L  3 


150  THE    (MILAN  UO  BOOK  I. 

"  Origilla  was  condemned  to  a  yet  heavier 
punishment ;  to  wit,  to  be  hanged  up  by  the 
hair  till  she  was  dead;  while  we,  in  the  ex- 
pectation of  our  sentence,  were  to  assist  in  the 
execution  of  hers ;  and  to  keep  watch  and  ward 
over  her,  as  she  wavered  in  the  wind.  My  lot 
(for  we  drew  lots  to  determine  the  order  of  our 
guard)  happened  to  be  the  first,  and  I  have 
already  slain  seven  knight4?,  that  would  have 
relieved  her ;  whose  arms  and  bearings  may  be 
seen  fastened  to  the  tree." 

The  knight  had  scarcely  ended,  when  the 
wretched  woman  gave  the  lie  to  his  assertions, 
and  denounced  him  as  having  slain  those  he 
mentioned  by  treachery,  hoping  by  the  show  of 
these  trophies  to  terrify  others  from  attempting 
to  defend  her. 

Orlando  believes  the  lady,  and  defies  and 
unhorses  Uldano.  He  is  no  sooner  conquered, 
than  a  horn  sounds,  whicli  a  dwarf  winds  from- 
a  tower's  top;  when  another  knight  takes  up 


BOOK  I.  1NNAMORATO.  151 

the  conqueror;  and  the  four  concerned  are 
all  successively  encountered,  and  dismounted, 
by  Orlando,  who  now  cuts  down  the  damsel, 
and  departs  with  her  seated  on  his  horse's  croup. 

Thus  riding  together,  and  beguiling  the 
way  with  talk,  they  descried,  in  the  middle 
of  a  meadow,  a  huge  rock  of  marble  cut  into 
steps,  and  bearing  an  inscription  in  letters  of 
gold ;  when  the  damsel  informs  him  they  are 
near  a  notable  wonder,  which  well  deserves  his 
examination ;  since,  if  he  will  take  the  pains  of 
climbing  this  pile,  which  is  hollow  within,  he 
may  from  the  top  descry  Hell  and  Paradise, 
opened  to  the  sight  below.  Orlando  believes 
the  tale,  and  ascends  the  steps,  when  Origilla 
having  possessed  herself  of  Brigliadoro,  laughs 
at  him  for  his  folly  and  departs. 

Orlando,   now    examining    the    inscription, 

finds  it  imports   nothing  more  than  that  this 

was  the  tomb  of  Ninus,  the  founder  of  Nineveh. 

Little  satisfied  with  the  discovery,  and  cursing 

L  * 


152  THE    ORLANDO    INNAMOHATO.      BOOK  I. 

the  damsel  from  the  bottom  of  his  soul,  he 
departs  on  foot,  in  order  to  prosecute  his 
adventure. 

But  here  the  author  closes  his  first  book, 

« 

with  the  promise  of  treating  of  higher  and 
worthier  matters  in  his  second. 


THE 

ORLANDO  INNAMORATO. 

BOOK  II. 


ARGUMENT. 

Agramant,  king  of  Africa,  assembles  his  council  for  advice 
respecting  an  intended  invasion  of  France,  and  is  exhorted  to 
seek  out  Rogero,  as  necessary  to  the  success  of  his  enterprise. 
Rinaido,  with  Astolpho,  Iroldo  and  Prasildo,  leaves  the  camp 
before  Albracca,  in  search  of  Orlando,  with  whom  he  is  im- 
patient to  terminate  his  quarrel.  On  his  way,  he  falls  in  with 
a  damsel,  in  whose  behalf  he  combats  with  an  enchanted  man, 
who  plunges  with  him  into  a  lake,  in  which  they  both  disap- 
pear. Agramant,  in  the  meantime,  is  unable  to  find  Rogero, 
and  Rodomont  of  Sarza,  one  of  his  vassal  kings,  determines 
to  undertake  the  expedition  alone.  Orlando,  who  had  been 
dispatched  by  Angelica  on  a  perilous  quest,  achieves  this  and 
other  adventures.  She  is  in  the  meantime  robbed  of  her  magic 
ring  by  Brunello,  who  steals  his  horse  from  Sacripant,  and 
her  sword  from  Marphisa.  Rodomont,  who  threatened  to 
invade  France  alone,  embarks  for  that  country  in  a  storm, 
and  makes  good  his  descent.  Orlando  now  falls  in  with  the 
enchanted  man,  who  had  regained  the  shore  after  leaving 
Rinaido  below  the  waves,  and  a  long  combat  ensues  between 
them  on  land  and  under  water.  Orlando  at  length  vanquishes 
him,  and  makes  the  conquest  of  Morgana's  garden,  of  which 
he  was  the  champion.  From  this  Orlando  delivers  all  her  pri- 


154- 


soners,  except  Ziliantes,  son  of  Monodontes,  her  minion  ;  and 
more  especially  Rinaldo,  to  whom  he  is  reconciled.  The  Christian 
knights  delivered,  excepting  Orlando,  depart  to  the  succour  of 
Charlemagne ;  but  Rinaldo,  with  his  friends,  soon  falls  into  a  new 
snare.      Orlando,  accompanied  by  Brandimart,  returns  towards 
Angelica,  in  Albracca;    but,  by    the  way,  encounters  Bru- 
nello,  pursued  by  Marphisa,  and  is  himself  plundered  by  the 
fugitive  of  his  sabre  and  his  horn.      He  is  afterwards  entrapped 
by  the  same  spell  as  the  others,  and  carried  prisoner  to  Damogir, 
in  the  empire  of  Monodontes.      This  adventure  leads  to  the 
discovery,  that  Brandimart  is  the  eldest  son  of  Monodontes;  for 
whom  his  younger  son,  Ziliantes,  is  also  recovered  by  Orlando, 
who  a  second  time  makes  himself  master  of  Morgana.      Ri- 
naldo,  Astolpho,  and  the  rest,    again  delivered   from  prison 
by  him,  pursue  their  way  to  France  ;   but  Astolpho  is  seduced 
from    his    companions  by  the   devices  of   Alcina.        Rinaldo 
and  Rodomont    meet    in    battle  in    France ;    but    are  sepa- 
rated.       The   invasion    of   this    country   is    to  be  attempted 
by  a  yet   more    formidable    force    than   that    of   Rodomont; 
for   Agramant,  having  received  from    Brunello  the  booty  he 
had   made,    discovers,  by  help  of  the  magic  ring,  the  abode 
of  Rogero,  and  allures  him  into  his  service.      Orlando,  with 
Angelica,    whose   covert    object    is    the   pursuit    of   Rinaldo, 
takes  his  way  to  France:   she,  drinking,  however,  of  the  foun- 
tain of  Disdain,  while  Rinaldo  now  drinks  of  the  fountain  of 
Love  in  the  forest  of  Arden,  the  two  exchange  passions ;  he 
becomes  her  lover,  and  she   now  mortally  detests  him,  who 
is  involved  by  his  present  pursuit  of  her  in  a  desperate  duel 
with  Orlando.       Charlemagne,   to  end  the  strife,  gives   An- 
gelica in  charge  to  Namus,  duke  of  Bavaria.      Agramant  hav- 
ing this  while  landed  in  France,  pursues  the  war  with  various 
success.     The  main  actions  are,  as  in  the  first  book,  diversified 
with  a  great  variety  of  episodes. 


BOOK  II. 

THE  theme,  announced  as  I  before  stated,  begins 
with  the  threatened  invasion  of  France ;  to  con- 
sult on  which,  Agramant  calls  a  council  of  his 
tributary  kings.  Here  Sobrino  strongly  opposes 
the  measure ;  but  finding  his  opposition  useless, 
observes  that  the  only  thing  which  can  render 
it  effectual,  will  be  to  get  possession  of  Rogero, 
a  youth  who  is  the  cousin  of  Agramant  by  the 
mother's  side,  and  now  detained  a  prisoner  by 
the  African,  Atlantes,  on  the  mountain  of  Ca- 
rena.  This  advice  is  better  listened  to  than  the 
former,  and  the  council  breaks  up  after  it  has 
been  adopted,  and  the  king  has  commanded  a 
search  to  be  prosecuted  for  him,  on  whose 
presence  so  much  appears  to  depend. 

The   scene   now   again   shifts    to  Albracca, 
from  before  the  walls  of  which,  still  besieged  by 


156  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

Marphisa,  Rinaldo  departs  in  pursuit  of  his 
new  enemy,  Orlando,  accompanied  by  Astolpho, 
Iroldo,  and  Prasildo. 

Astolpho  was  at  the  head  of  this  party  when 
they  fell  in  with  a  weeping  damsel,  who,  being 
questioned  as  to  her  cause  of  sorrow,  related 
that,  on  lately  crossing  a  neighbouring  bridge, 
a  wretch  had  issued  from  a  tower  which  com- 
manded it,  and  seized  upon  her  sister  that  ac- 
companied her,  whom  he  made  prisoner,  and 
whipt  bitterly  ;  having  first  stript  her,  and  tied 
her  naked  to  a  cypress.  Astolpho  immediately 
places  the  weeping  sister  behind  him  on  his 
horse,  and  all  proceed  together  to  effect  the 
deliverance  of  the  damsel. 

The  damsel,  bridge,  tower,  and  scourging 
warder  are  soon  descried.  Iroldo  and  Prasildo 
first  encounter  the  oppressor,  but  are  succes- 
sively defeated ;  and  the  ruffian  casts  their 
bodies  into  a  lake,  into  which  the  river,  bestrid 
by  the  bridge,  disembogues  itself  Rinaldo 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  157 

now  attacks  him  with  as  little  success,  and  is 
beat  down  with  an  iron  mace ;  but  when  the 
conqueror  attempts  to  dispose  of  him  like  the 
others,  he  makes  such  violent  efforts  to  free 
himself,  that  the  savage,  being  unable  to  throw 
him,  springs  with  him  into  the  lake ;  where  they 
both  disappear. 

Astolpho  remains  a  long  time  in  affliction 
upon  the  banks,  but  is  at  last  persuaded  by  the 
two  damsels  (for  one  sister  had  in  the  meantime 
freed  the  other)  to  depart. 

He  accordingly  mounts  Bayardo,  gives  Rabi- 
can  to  one  of  the  damsels,  and  one  of  the  Baby- 
lonian knights'  horses  to  the  other;  and  they 
both,  thus  mounted,  go  forth  under  his  guidance. 

At  this  tune,  Brandimart  (who,  it  may  be 
remembered,  was  in  Albracca)  hearing  of 
Orlando's  departure,  determines  to  pursue  him. 

The  same  resolution  is  taken  by  Gryphon 
and  Aquilant;  and  these,  arriving  at  the  shore, 
find  a  castle  situated  upon  the  beach,  with  an. 


158  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  IT. 

open  gallery  towards  the  sea.  In  this,  damsels 
are  dancing ;  and  the  brothers  are  informed  bv 

* 

two  maids,  who  are  passing  with  hawks  upon 
their  fists,  that  it  is  their  usage  to  detain  even- 
passenger  ;  who  is  obliged  to  join  in  then-  dance, 
and  to  pass  a  night  under  their  roof. 

The  brothers  consent  to  submit  to  this  joyous 
usage,  but  have  soon  reason  to  repent  their 
complaisance.  They  soon  see  a  damsel  ap- 
proaching upon  Brigliadoro,  which  she  had 
stolen  from  Orlando,  as  was  told  in  the  former 
book,  and  who,  being  interrogated  as  to  the 
manner  hi  which  she  had  become  mistress  of 
him,  said  that  he  was  the  horse  of  a  knight 
(describing  his  ensigns  as  those  of  Orlando) 
whom  she  had  found  dead  upon  a  plain,  with 
the  body  of  a  giant  by  his  side. 

The  two  brothers  are  much  distressed  by  this 
falsehood,  which  leaves  them  little  inclination  to 
enjoy  the  festivities  of  the  castle,  in  which  they 
had  been  compelled  to  join. 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  159 

To  add  to  their  misfortune,  they  are  surprised 
the  ensuing  night  in  their  beds;  and,  having 
been  detained  for  some  days  in  chains,  are, 
together  with  the  damsel,  who  had  also  arrived 
mounted  on  Brigliadoro,  led  forth  for  execution. 
As  they  are  however  conducting  to  the  place  of 
punishment,  a  stranger  knight  is  seen  approach- 
ing ;  but  here  the  author  breaks  off,  and  carries 
his  readers  back  to  the  war  before  Albracca. 

Marphisa  had  now  encountered  and  worsted  • 
every  one  of  the  defenders  of  Angelica,  in  an 
attack  which  they  made  upon  her  camp,  when 
she  was  assailed  by  Sacripant,  who  had  hitherto 
been  confined  to  the  fortress  from  the  effects  of 

a  former  wound. 
« 

A  desperate   combat  ensues,  in    which  the 

Circassian  is  much  assisted  by  the  speed  and 
docility  of  his  horse  Frontilatte.  In  the  heat 
of  this  a  courier  brings  him  news  of  the  in- 
vasion of  his  kingdom  by  Mandricardo,  the. 
son  of  Agricaiu  As  he  and  Marphisa,  however, 


160  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

cannot  agree  upon  the  conditions  of  a  truce, 
this  occasions  but  a  short  interruption  of  the 
duel ;  which  is  at  last  only  broken  off  by  the 
author,  that  he  may  give  some  account  of  the 
search  made  for  Rogero,  in  consequence  of 
what  was  determined  at  the  council  of  Agra- 
mant. 

The  emissary  of  the  king  returns,  reporting 
the  inutility  of  his  journey,  made  through  the 
mountain  of  Carena,  and  Rodomont,  enraged 
at  the  delay,  sets  out  with  his  own  forces  for 
the  invasion  of  France.  In  the  mean  time 
Agramant  is  assured  that  Rogero  is  upon 
Mount  Carena ;  though  the  garden,  where  he 
is  confined,  is  invisible ;  and  that  the  possession 
of  Angelica's  ring  would  enable  him  to  succeed 
in  his  enterprise. 

Agramant  now  promises  a  kingdom  to  who- 
ever shall  obtain  for  him  this  prize,  and  the 
theft  is  confidently  promised  by  a  dwarf,  who  is 
entitled  Brunello. 


BOOK  If.  1NNAMORATO.  161 

This  while,  Orlando,  robbed  by  the  damsel 
of  Brigliadoro,  was  plodding  upon  his  way 
a-foot :  when  he  one  day  fell  in  with  an  escort 
of  armed  men,  leading  two  knights  as  prisoners, 
whom  he  immediately  recognized  for  Gryphon 
and  Aquilant,  and  the  damsel  who  had  carried 
off  his  courser. 

The  escort  was,  it  seems,  carrying  off  these 
to  be  devoured  by  the  serpent  of  the  garden 
of  Orgagna;  but  Orlando  immediately  routs 
the  guard,  and  sets  the  prisoners  at  liberty. 

He   has  scarcely  looked  the  damsel  in  the 
face,  when  he   forgets  the  wrongs  he   has  re- 
ceived;  and   Gryphon,  who    had    exchanged 
hearts  with  her,  almost  at  sight,  is  yet  more  fas- 
cinated by  her  graces.     Orlando  observing  this, 
under  some  pretence  sends  the  two  brothers 
away,  that  he  may  keep  her  to  himself;  and 
sitting  down   by  her  on  the  grass,  begins  to 
woo  her  with  such  courtesy  as  he  can.  :. 

M. 


162  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

While  he  is  thus  engaged,  another  damsel 
approaches  on  a  white  palfrey,  who  warns 
Orlando  of  impending  danger,  and  informs 
him  he  is  close  to  the  garden  of  Orgagna. 
Orlando  is  delighted  at  the  intelligence,  and 
entreats  her  to  inform  him  how  he  is  to  procure 
admittance. 

She  promises  him  full  instructions ;  and,  as 
the  first  of  these,  tells  him  he  must  keep  himself 
chaste  for  three  days,  previous  to  attempting  the 
adventure,  if  he  would  preserve  himself  from 
being  devoured  by  the  dragon,  who  guards  the 
gate.  She  then  says  she  will  give  him  a  book, 
in  which  he  will  find  painted  the  garden  and 
all  it  contains,  together  with  the  palace  of  the 
false  enchantress,  which  she  had  only  entered 
the  day  before,  for  the  purpose  of  executing  a 
magic  work  in  which  she  was  engaged. 

This,  which  was  the  manufacture  of  a  sword, 
capable  of  cutting  through  even  enchanted 
substances,  she  only  pursued  on  moonless  nights. 


HOOK   If.  INN  AMOR  ATO.  163 

The  object  of  this  labour  was  the  destruction  of 
a  knight  of  the  west,  hight  Orlando ;  who,  she 
had  read  in  the  book  of  Fate,  was  destined  to 
demolish  her  garden.  To  this,  the  damsel 
adds,  that  the  garden  can  only  be  entered  at 
sunrise ;  and,  having  presented  him  with  a  book 
of  instructions,  departs. 

Orlando,  who  finds  he  must  delay  his  enter- 
prize  till  the  next  morning,  now  lies  down,  and 
is  soon  asleep.  In  the  mean  time,  Origilla, 
who  was  still  with  him,  meditated  her  escape, 
in  order  to  rejoin  Gryphon;  and  yielding  to 
the  impulse  of  her  evil  nature,  was  about  to 
slay  Orlando  with  his  own  sword,  which  she 
had  drawn  for  the  purpose.  Afraid,  however, 
to  execute  her  design,  she  mounts  Brigliadoro, 
and  gallops  off,  carrying  away  Durindana. 

Orlando  wakes,  in  such  indignation  as  may 
be  supposed,  on  the  discovery  of  the  theft ;  but, 
like  a  good  knight  and  true,  is  not  to  be  di- 
M  2 


164  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

verted  from  his  enterprise.  He  tears  off  a  huge 
branch  of  elm  to  supply  the  place  of  his  sword, 
and,  the  sun  rising,  takes  his  way  towards  the 
eastern  gate,  where  the  dragon  was  on  his 
watch. 

This  he  slays  by  repeated  blows  upon  the 
spine ;  but  finds  that  the  wall  of  the  enchanted 
garden,  which  he  had  entered,  was  closed  upon 
him.  Looking  round  him,  he  saw  a  fair  foun- 
tain of  water,  which  overflowed  into  a  river, 
and  in  the  centre  of  the  fountain  was  a  figure, 
on  whose  forehead  was  written, 

"  The  stream  which  waters  violet  and  rose, 
"  From  hence  to  the  enchanted  palace  flows." 

Following  the  banks  of  this  flowery  stream, 
and  rapt  in  the  delights  of  the  delicious  garden, 
Orlando  arrives  at  the  palace,  and  entering  it, 
finds  the  mistress,  clad  in  white,  and  with  a 
crown  of  gold  upon  her  head,  in  the  act  of 
viewing  herself  in  the  surface  of  the  fatal  sword. 


BOOK  II.  1NNAMORATO.  165 

He  surprises  her  before  she  can  escape,  deprives 
her  of  the  weapon,  and  holding  her  fast  by  her 
long  hair,  which  floated  behind,  threatens  her 
with  immediate  death  if  she  does  not  instruct 
him  in  the  means  of  retreat. 

Falerina,  however,  was  firm  of  purpose,  and 
refused.  Hence  Orlando,  being  unable  to  move 
her  either  by  threats  or  kindness,  was  under  the 
necessity  of  binding  her  to  a  beech.  Having 
thus  secured  his  prisoner,  he  renewed  his 
questions,  but  she  still  refused  to  point  out  the 
gate  of  the  garden. 

He  now  bethinks  him  of  his  book,  and  con- 
sulting it,  finds  there  is  an  entrance  to  the  south 
but  that  it  is  watched  by  a  bull,  with  one  horn 
of  iron,  and  another  of  flame. 

Moreover,  before  arriving  at  this,  there  is 
another  impediment:  a  lake  is  to  be  passed, 
pregnant  with  new  danger;  but  to  provide 
against  this,  he  is  instructed  by  his  book. 
According  to  its  directions, 
M  3 


J66  THK    ORLANDO  BOOK.  Jl. 


He,  still  his  path  pursuing,  gathers  posies 
Of  flowers,  which  every  where  about  him  spring, 
And  filling  well  his  casque  and  ears  with  roses, 
Lists  if  he  hears  the  birds  in  green-wood  sing : 
He  sees  the  gaping  beak,  the  swelling  throat, 
And  ruffled  plumes,  but  cannot  catch  a  note. 

Having  thus  proved  the  force  of  his  defence, 
he  proceeds  towards  the  lake,  which  was  small 
but  deep;  and  so  clear  and  tranquil,  that  the 
eye  could  penetrate  to  the  bottom. 

He  is  no  sooner  arrived  upon  the  banks, 
than  the  waters  are  seen  to  gurgle ;  and  a  syren, 
rising  midway  out  of  the  pool,  sings  so  sweetly, 
that  birds  and  beasts  troop  to  the  water-side, 
attracted  by  her  song.  Of  this  the  count 
hears  nothing;  but  feigning  to  yield  to  the 
charm,  sinks  down  beside  the  water ;  from 
which  the  syren  issues  with  the  intent  to  accom- 
plish his  destruction.  Orlando,  however,  seizes 


BOOK  II.  1NNAMORATO.  167 

her  by  the  hair,  and,  while  singing  yet  louder 
(song  being  her  only  defence),  cuts  off  her  head, 
and  (so  instructed  by  the  book)  stains  himself 
all  over  with  her  blood. 

Having  done  this  as  a  protection  against 
the  horns  of  the  bull,  and  taken  the  roses  from 
his  helmet  and  ears,  he  proceeds  towards  the 
southern  gate. 

Here  he  is  encountered  by  the  bull,  whose 
horn  of  iron  he  severs  at  a  stroke.  His  horn 
of  flame  was  however  yet  left,  and  by  this  Or- 
lando, but  for  the  virtue  of  the  syren's  blood, 
would  have  been  consumed.  Guarded  by  this, 
he  pursues  his  advantage,  and  at  last  slaughters 
his  enemy.  The  bull  is,  however,  no  sooner  slain, 
than  the  gate,  of  which  he  is  the  guardian,  dis- 
appears, the  wall  closes,  and  Orlando  again  finds 
himself  a  prisoner,  without  the  means  of  escape. 

Again  resorting  to  his  book,  he  finds  that  another 
river,  running  westward,  leads  to  a  gate  formed 
of  jewels,  which  is  kept  by  an  enchanted  ass. 
M  4- 


168  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK   II. 

Taking  his  course  towards  this,  he  arrives  at 
a  tree  of  surprising  height,  and  again  consulting 
his  book,  razes  off  his  crest,  and  makes  a  pent- 
house of  his  shield  for  the  protection  of  his  sight. 
Covering  himself  with  it,  he  advances  with  his 
eyes  fixed  upon  the  ground,  towards  the  mira- 
culous tree. 

On  approaching  it,  a  harpy  with  a  beautiful 
female  head,  and  crowned  with  strangely  co- 
loured plumes,  flutters  out  from  the  branches, 
and  hovering  above  the  count,  squirts  her  ordure 
at  his  head.  This  is  fortunately  protected  by 
his  shield,  on  which  it  hisses  like  boiling  oil. 
Orlando,  distracted  by  the  yells  of  the  harpy, 
is  often  tempted  to  raise  his  eyes  :  he  how- 
ever perseveres  in  keeping  them  fixed  to  the 
ground  till  he  is  near  the  tree,  when  he  falls, 
as  if  blinded  by  the  burning  liquor.  The  bird 
now  swoops  to  the  ground,  and  having  darted 
her  talons  into  his  breast-plate,  attempts  to 
drag  him  towards  the  trunk.  The  count  sees 


BOOK  II.  INNAMOKATO.  169 

his  time  is  come,  and  dispatches  her  with  a 
back-handed  stroke  of  his  sword. 

The  harpy  demolished,  he  re-adjusted  his 
crest,  the  gift  of  Angelica,  braced  his  shield 
anew,  and  took  his  way  towards  the  western 
gate.  Nothing  was  ever  seen  more  beautiful 
than  this,  with  respect  to  the  materials,  or  the 
workmanship.  Nor  was  the  animal  who  kept 
it  less  extraordinary ;  being  an  ass,  armed  with 
scales  of  gold,  and  ears  of  such  length  and 
strength,  as  to  be  able  to  seize,  and  drag  to 
himself  by  the  aid  of  them,  whatever  was  within 
his  reach ;  his  tail  cut  like  a  trenchant  sword, 
and  his  bray  made  the  forest  tremble. 

Though  his  golden  scales  had  resisted  all 
other  weapons,  they  were  not  impenetrable  by 
Orlando's  steel,  and  he  smote  off  his  head  at  a 
blow. 

A  strange  wonder  followed ;  the  earth  swal- 
lowed the  carcase  of  the  ass,  this  gate  too  disap- 
peared, and  the  walls  again  closed  upon  Orlando. 


170  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

He  is  now  directed  by  his  instructions  to  a 
a  northern  entrance,  and,  strong  in  patience, 
proceeds  in  this  direction.  On  his  way  thither 
he  sees  a  table  spread  in  the  wilderness.  He 
is  tempted  by  the  viands ;  but  recurring  to  the 
book,  is  informed  of  his  danger,  and  refrains. 

From  this  he  learns  that  a  faun  lay  conceale 
amongst  the  neighbouring  thorns  and  roses, 
provided  with  a  chain,  with  which  she  snared 
whoever  tasted  of  the  banquet.  She  fled 
from  Orlando  on  his  approaching  her  haunt, 
dragging  after  her  a  serpent's  tail,  till  then  con- 
cealed, which  was  as  loathsome  as  her  face  was 
lovely.  Being  overtaken,  she  made  no  defence 
and  was  slaughtered  at  a  blow. 

The  count  now  arrives  at  the  northern  gate, 
which  he  finds  guarded  by  a  giant.  Orlando 
had  so  often  been  engaged  with  enemies  of  this 
description,  that  he  thought  little  of  the  combat 
in  which  he  was  going  to  engage.  In  effect, 
his  expectations  were  in  part  justified,  as  he 


HOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  171 

slew  liis  adversary.  This  was,  however,  but  the 
beginning  of  his  labour;  for,  from  the  blood  of 
the  slaughtered  enemy  sprang  a  fire,  and  from 
this  issued  two  other  giants  yet  fiercer  than  the 
first.  Orlando  sees  that  to  spill  the  blood  of 
these,  would  be  but  to  multiply  his  foes,  and 
accordingly,  changing  his  mode  of  proceeding, 
grapples  with  one  of  the  two  in  the  hopes  of 
squeezing  him  to  death.  He  is,  however,  still 
interrupted  by  the  other,  before  he  can  accom- 
plish his  purpose ;  and  at  last  sees  the  necessity 
of  separating  them . 

To  effect  this,  he  feigns  to  fly,  but  the  giants, 
instead  of  pursuing,  return  to  keep  guard  over 
the  enchanted  gate.  If,  however,  Orlando  was 
disappointed  in  his  hope  of  dividing  them,  his 
stratagem  was  productive  of  another  advantage. 
He  saw  the  chain  lying  on  the  ground,  which  was 
spread  for  his  destruction  by  the  faun.  Return- 
ing with  this,  he  nooses  the  giants  and  then  again 
recurs  to  the  book  for  his  future  proceedings. 


172  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

This  informs  him,  that  the  total  destruction 
of  the  garden  (the  task  imposed  by  Angelica) 
can  only  be  accomplished  by  tearing  off  a  cer- 
tain branch  of  a  lofty  tree,  in  which  was  in- 
volved the  destiny  of  this  fairy  creation. 

According  to  the  rules  which  he  received,  he 
returned  through  a  spacious  valley  towards  the 
palace,  passing  Falerina,  whom  he  had  left 
fastened  to  the  beech.  He  soon  descries  the 
fatal  tree,  which  is  of  an  immeasurable  height : 
while  the  stem,  even  at  the  bottom,  is  no  more 
than  a  palm  in  girt. 

No  thicker ;  but  from  this  close  branch  and  spray 
Bristled,  whence  foliage  green  and  narrow  grew. 
The  leaves  which  died  and  sprouted  every  day, 
Conceal'd  within  sharp  pointed  thorns  from  view: 
Apples  of  gold  the  loaded  twigs  display  ; 
Apples  in  form,  but  burnish'd  gold  in  hue, 
Suspended  from  small  stalks,  so  slight  in  show, 
The  man  had  periled  life  who  walked  below. 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  1 73 

To  obviate  this  danger  (and  we  are  after- 
wards told  that  the  fruit  was  as  large  as  the 
human  head),  Orlando  forms  a  sort  of  grating 
of  boughs  of  trees,  and,  under  cover  of  this, 
proceeds  towards  the  tree,  amidst  a  shower  of 
the  golden  apples,  which  fall,  loosened  by  the 
vibration  of  the  soil  beneath  his  feet.  Having 
reached  it,  he  severs  the  trunk  close  to  the 
root,  and  every  thing  is  instantly  involved  in 
darkness. 

The  cloud  at  length  clears  away,  and  the 
sun  shines  forth  upon  a  wild  landscape  ;  where 
no  vestige  is  to  be  seen  of  the  garden,  or 
trace  of  the  adventure,  except  in  the  appear- 
ance of  the  fairy  Falerina,  who  remains  in 
the  middle  of  the  wilderness,  fastened  to  the 
beech. 

Her  tone  is  now  changed,  and  she  entreats 
Orlando's  mercy,  assuring  him  that  many  lives 
depend  upon  the  preservation  of  hers.  She 
explains  herself  by  saying,  that  she  had  con- 


174  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK   II. 

structed  the  garden  and  a  neighbouring  snare 
in  a  bridge  over  a  torrent,  in  order  to  be  re- 
venged on  a  knight  called  Ariantes,  and  an 
infamous  woman  of  the  name  of  Origilla,  who, 
though  many  had  fallen  into  her  toils,  had  both 
hitherto  escaped. 

"  Many,"  pursues  the  fairy,  "  were  entrap- 
ped in  my  garden,  and  yet  more  at  the  bridge ; 
and  here  it  was  that  I  took  a  certain  enchan- 
tress, daughter  of  king  Galaphron,  who  by  some 
secret  means  escaped,  and  effected  the  deliver- 
ance of  her  fellow  prisoners.  Many  more, 
however,  have  been  taken  since,  and  all  these 
will  perish,  if  you  are  resolved  on  my  destruc- 
tion." Orlando  immediately  promised  her  life, 
upon  her  pledging  herself  for  the  deliverance  of 
the  captives. 

With  this  view  they  proceed  together,  towards 
the  bridge ;  but  the  author  snaps  this  thread, 
to  take  up  that  of  the  story  of  Albracca. 

Here  Sacripant  and  Marphisa  were  left  en- 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  175 

gaged  in  a  single  combat,  which  was  still  con- 
tinued with  mutual  animosity;  while  Angelica, 
surrounded  by  a  group  of  warriors,  sate  con- 
templating the  fight  from  the  ramparts  of  the 
citadel.  While  the  attention  of  all  was  thus 
engaged,  Brunello,  who  (it  will  be  remembered) 
had  undertaken  to  steal  Angelica's  ring,  arrived 
beneath  the  walls  of  Albracca,  scaled  the  rock 
and  walls  of  the  fortress,  while  the  crowd 
was  watching  the  duel,  and  disputing  on  its 
probable  result,  approached  the  princess  unob- 
served, and,  slipping  the  ring  from  her  finger, 
escaped  amid  the  confusion  which  followed. 

Having  descended  safely  to  the  ground,  and 
swam  a  water  by  which  the  citadel  was  sur- 
rounded, the  dwarf  perceived  that  the  two 
combatants  had  separated  for  an  interval  of 
repose,  and  immediately  meditated  a  new  ex- 
ercise of  his  art.  With  this  view,  he  approached 
Sacripant,  who,  absorbed  in  an  amorous  reverie, 
sate  apart,  upon  his  courser,  and  having 


176  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

first  loosened  the  girths,  and  supported  the 
saddle  by  a  piece  .of  wood,  withdrew  the  horse 
from  under  him.  * 

Marphisa,  who  was  at  a  little  distance,  wit- 
nessed this  with  wonder,  and,  before  she  re- 
covered from  her  astonishment,  was  herself 
plundered  of  her  sword.  Marphisa  is  no 
sooner  aware  of  the  theft,  than  she  pursues 
the  robber;  but  he,  mounted  upon  Fronti- 
latte,  his  new  acquisition,  soon  distances  the 
pursuer. 

While  Angelica,  who  felt  her  misfortune  yet 
more  than  the  others,  is  in  despair  at  the  loss 
of  her  treasure,  an  alarm  is  given  by  the  warder, 
who  reports  the  arrival  of  a  new  army  before 
Albracca.  This  was  a  Turkish  force,  led  by 
Caramano,  brother  of  Torindo,  one  of  the 
princes  who  had  been  seized  and  imprisoned  by 

*  The  reader  will  recollect  the  imitation  of  this  absurd 
incident  in  "  Don  Quixote,"  whoso  squire's  ass,  Dapple,  is 
stolen  in  a  similar  manner. 


BOOK  II.  1NNAMORATO.  177 

Truffaldino,  and  who,  having  refused  to  enter 
into  the  engagement  to  which  the  others  agreed, 
on  his  delivering  them  from  durance,  now 
brought  this  brother  against  Albracca. 

Angelica's  last  hopes  of  deliverance  rest 
upon  Gradasso;  who,  it  seems,  was  her  re- 
lation, and  who  was  meditating  anew  the  inva- 
sion of  France.  Hence  Sacripant  undertakes 
a  secret  embassy  to  this  prince,  with  the  view  of 
soliciting  his  succour. 

Rodomont,  this  while,  who  was  too  impa- 
tient to  wait  for  Agramanfs  attack  upon  Charle- 
magne, had  already  sailed  for  France.  A  tre- 
mendous storm  wrecked  his  fleet  upon  the  coast 
of  that  kingdom ;  but  he,  landing  with  such 
force  as  the  tempest  had  left  him,  made  good  his 
footing,  and  routed  the  Christians  in  more 
engagements  than  one:  though  the  balance  at 
last  turned  in  their  favour. 

Previous,  however,  to  this,  Gano,  or  Ganelon, 
(as  he  is  sometimes  called)  enters  into  a  traitor- 

N 


178  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

ous  correspondence  with  Marsilius,  whom  he 
invites  into  France. 

While  great  events  are  preparing  in  this 
quarter,  the  author  resumes  the  story  of 
Orlando,  who  was  journeying  with  Falerina 
towards  the  bridge,  where  so  many  prisoners 
were  entrapped.  On  their  way  thither,  however, 
they  arrived  at  a  yet  more  perilous  pass  :  this 
was  the  bridge,  and  lake  into  which  the  felon 
warrior  leaped  with  Rinaldo  in  his  arms.  Fa- 
lerina, enchantress  as  she  was,  turned  pale  at 
the  sight  of  this  place,  and  cursed  the  hour  in 
which  they  had  taken  the  road  which  conducted 
them  thither ;  informing  Orlando  that  they  were 
approaching  a  snare,  laid  by  Morgana;  who 
plotted  revenge  against  a  knight  who  had  de- 
stroyed many  of  her  spells,  and  set  at  nought 
her  riches  and  her  power. 

For  this  purpose  she  had  formed  the  lake; 
and  selected,  as  a  defender  of  the  pass,  a  man 
named  Arridano,  a  churl  of  the  most  ferocious 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  179 

and  pitiless  character  she  could  find.  Him  she 
had  clothed  in  invulnerable  arms,  and  charmed 
in  such  a  manner,  that  his  strength  always  in- 
creased in  a  six-fold  proportion  to  that  of  the 
adversary  with  whom  he  was  matched.  Hence, 
no  one  had  hitherto  escaped  from  the  contest ; 
since,  such  was  his  strength  and  power  of  en- 
durance, that  he  could  breathe  freely  under 
water.  Hence,  having  grappled  with  a  knight, 
and  sunk  with  him  to  the  bottom  of  the  lake,  he 
returned,  bearing  his  arms  in  triumph  to  the 
top. 

While  Falerina  is  explaining  the  danger  of 
the  enterprise,  Orlando  sees  Rinaldo's  arms, 
erected  in  form  of  a  trophy,  amongst  other 
spoils  made  by  the  villain ;  and  forgetting  their 
late  quarrel,  determines  upon  revenging  his 
friend.  A  desperate  contest  ensues  between  the 
churl  and  the  knight,  during  which  Falerina 
flies.  The  combatants  (as  in  the  case  of  Rinaldo) 
N  2 


180  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  If. 

both  grapple,  and  sink  together  in  the  water. 
Arrived  at  the  bottom,  Orlando  finds  himself 
in  another  world,  upon  a  dry  meadow,  with  the 
lake  overhead,  through  which  shone  the  beams 
of  our  sun;  the  meadow  being  on  all  sides 
surrounded  by  a  crystal  wall.  Here  the  battle 
was  renewed,  and  in  this  Orlando  had  an  ad- 
vantage, which  none  had  hitherto  possessed. 
Besides  that  lie  was  himself  invulnerable,  he 
was  now  in  possession  of  the  sword,  tempered 
by  Falerina,  against  which  no  spells  could 
avail.  Thus  armed,  and  countervailing  the 
strength  of  his  adversary  by  his  superior  skill 
and  activity,  he  had  the  good  fortune  to  lay 
him  dead  upon  the  field. 

Orlando  having  slain  his  foe,  discovers  a  gate 
in  the  crystal  wall ;  and  having  passed  through 
a  dark  labyrinth,  comes  at  last  where  it  is  lighted 
by  a  carbuncle,  whose  lustre  was  equal  to  that 
of  day.  This  discovered  to  his  view  a  river 
little  less  than  twenty-yards  over,  and  beyond 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  181 

this  was  seen  a  field  as  thickly  covered  with 
precious  stones  as  the  sky  is  full  of  stars. 

Over  this  was  thrown  a  bridge,  only  half  a 
palm  wide,  and  at  each  end  was  stationed  an 
iron  figure  with  a  mace.  Orlando  no  sooner 
attempted  to  pass  this,  than  the  figures  smote 
upon  it,  and  it  was  instantly  engulphed  in  the 
stream.  Orlando  however,  being  resolved  to 
accomplish  the  adventure  or  perish  in  the  at- 
tempt, leapt  the  river  and  arrived  in  the  field, 
which  contained  the  treasures  of  the  fairy. 

When  he  had  arrived  at  the  other  extremity 
of  this,  he  entered  a  building,  where  he  beheld 
the  likeness  of  a  king,  surrounded  by  his  peers, 
and  encompassed  by  all  the  pomp  and  magni- 
ficence of  royalty.  The  monarch  appeared  to 
be  seated  at  a  banquet,  with  a  naked  sword 
suspended  over  his  head,  and  on  the  table  before 
him  was  a  live  coal,  supported  on  a  golden  lily, 

which  gave  light  to  the  apartment.     On  his  left 
N  3 


182  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

stood  a  figure  with  a  bended  bow  in  guise  of  one 
who  waits  the  crossing  of  the  stag ;  and  on  the 
right,  the  form  of  one,  who,  from  his  likeness 
to  the  king,  appeared  to  be  his  brother,  and 
who  bore  in  one  hand  a  writing  illustrative  of 
the  vanity  of  his  worldly  pursuits. 

The  troubled  countenance  of  the  king  seemed 
to  bear  witness  to  the  truth  of  the  inscription ; 
and  Orlando,  having  satisfied  his  curiosity,  de- 
parted through  the  door  opposite  to  that  by 
which  he  had  entered.  He  was  however  no 
sooner  out  of  the  apartment,  than  all  was 
darkness. 

After  wandering  for  some  time  at  random, 
he  bethought  himself  of  the  coal,  which  was 
burning  before  the  king,  and  returned  in  or- 
der to  take  it.  He  had  however  no  sooner 
laid  his  hand  upon  this,  than  the  archer  let  fly 
his  arrow,  which  extinguished  it,  and  night 
followed.  This  was  rendered  terrible  by  an 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  183 

earthquake,  which  shook  the  world  to  its  centre. 
The  earthquake  at  last  ceased,  the  light  re- 
kindled of  itself,  and  all  was  as  before.  Again 
Orlando  issued  through  the  dark  passage,  again 
was  compelled  to  return  in  search  of  the  coal, 
and  again  witnessed  the  same  effect. 

A  third  attempt  was  more  successful :  he 
intercepted  the  arrow  with  his  shield,  and  car- 
ried off  the  light  in  safety.  Using  this  as  a 
lamp,  Orlando  arrived  where  the  way  divided ; 
and  turning  to  the  left,  instead  of  the  right 
(which  would  have  conducted  him  out  of  the 
building)  took  the  road  which  led  to  the  dun- 
geons of  Morgana.  Here  were  imprisoned  Ri- 
naldo,  Dudon,  Brandimart,  and  others  who  had 
fallen  into  the  power  of  Morgana;  but  the 
count  did  not  immediately  arrive  at  their  place 
of  confinement.  Still  guiding  himself  by  his 
light,  he  came  to  a  cleft  in  the  rock,  through 
which  he  passed  into  a  flowery  meadow,  planted 
N  4 


184  THE    OllLANDO  BOOK  II. 

with  trees  covered  with  fruit  and  flowers,  and 
full  of  all  imaginable  delights. 

In  the  middle  of  this  was  a  fountain,  and  fast 
by  it  lay  Morgana  asleep ;  a  lady  of  a  lovely 
aspect,  dressed  in  white  and  vermilion  gar- 
ments ;  her  forehead  well  furnished  with  hair, 
but  with  scarcely  any  behind. 

While  Orlando  stood  in  silence,  contem- 
plating her  beauty,  he  heai'd  a  voice  exclaim, 
"  Seize  the  fairy  by  the  forelock  if  thou  hopest 
fair  success  ;"  Orlando  turning,  and  advancing 
in  the  direction  from  which  the  voice  came, 
discovered  a  prison  of  crystal  in  which  he 
beheld  the  captives  of  Morgana. 

At  the  sight  of  these,  he  raised  his  sabre  to 
smite  the  wall ;  but  was  advertised  by  a  female 
prisoner  that  all  attempts  to  release  them  would 
only  be  productive  of  new  misery  to  those  he 
sought  to  benefit,  unless  he  could  take  Mor- 
gana herself,  and  force  from  her  the  keys  of 
their  prison-house. 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  185 

Thus  admonished,  he  returned  towards  the 
fountain.  But  the  fairy,  who  was  awake  and 
risen,  was  now  dancing  round  its  border  with 
the  lightness  of  a  leaf,  and  timing  her  steps  to 
the  following  song : 

"  Who  in  this  world  would  wealth  and  treasure 

share, 

"  Honour,  delight,  and  state,  and  what  is  best, 
"  Quick  let  him  catch  me  by  the  lock  of  hair 
"  Which  flutters  from  my  forehead,  and  be  blest; 
"  But  let  him 'not  the  proffered  good  forbear,    >- 
"  Nor,  till  he  seize  the  fleeting  blessing,  rest.  • , 
"  For  present  loss  is  sought  in  vain  to-morrow, 
"  And  the  deluded  wretch  is  left  in  sorrow." 

The  fairy,  however,  no  sooner  set  eyes  on  the 
count,  than  she  bounded  off,  and  fled  from  the 
flowery  meadow  over  a  high  and  inhospitable 
mountain.  ^.  Orlando  pursued  her  through 
thorns  and  rocks,  though  the  sky,  on  her  gain- 


186  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

ing  this  dreary  scene,  became  overcast,  and  he 
was  assailed  by  tempest,  lightning  and  hail. 

While  Orlando  thus  pursues,  enveloped  in 
storm,  a  pale  and  meagre  woman  issues  from 
a  cave,  armed  with  a  whip,  and  treading  close 
upon  the  pursuer,  scourges  him,  till  his  skin  is 
raised  in  furrows.  She  infbrms  him,  while  she 
inflicts  this  discipline,  that  she  is  Penitence,  and 
sent  to  punish  him  for  having  neglected  to  seize 
Morgana,  when  he  found  her  sleeping  by  the 
fountain.  Orlando,  determined  to  resist  this 
chastisement,  turns  upon  his  tormentor;  but 
might  as  well  seek  to  wound  the  wind. 
Convinced  at  last  of  the  shadowy  nature 
of  his  persecutor,  and  observing  that  Mor- 
gana gained  upon  him,  while  he  was  thus 
hopelessly  engaged,  he  determines  to  pursue 
the  fairy  without  being  diverted  by  the  molest- 
ation of  Penitence. 

Chasing  Morgana,  then,  over  rock  and  hill, 
he  mode  sundry  snatches  at  her  white  and 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  187 

vermilion  garments,  which  still  eluded  his  grasp. 
On  the  fairy,  however,  turning  her.  head  for  an 
instant,  he  profited  by  the  chance,  and  seized 
her  by  the  forelock.  In  an  instant  the  tem- 
pest ceased,  the  sky  became  serene,  and  Peni- 
tence retreated  into  her  cave. 

Orlando  now  demanded  of  Morgana  the  keys 
of  her  dungeon ;  and  the  fairy,  feigning  a  com- 
placent aspect,  told  him  that  these  were  at  his 
disposal;  entreating  him,  though  he  should 
free  all  her  other  prisoners,  to  leave  her  a 
youthful  son  of  Monodontes,  who  was  her  darl- 
ing. Orlando  consented  to  this,  and  the  fairy 
delivered  up  a  key  of  silver,  bidding  him  be 
cautious  in  the  use  of  it;  since,  to  break  the 
lock,  would  be  to  involve  himself  and  all,  in 
inevitable  destruction;  a  caution  which  gave 
the  count  room  for  long  meditation,  and  led 
him  to  consider 

How  few  amid  the  suitors,  who  importune 
The  dame,  know  how  to  guide  the  keys  of  Fortune. 


188  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

Keeping  the  fairy  still  fast  by  the  forelock, 
Orlando  proceeded  towards  the  prison,  turned 
the  key  without  occasioning  the  mischief  ap- 
prehended, and  delivered  the  prisoners. 

Amongst  these  were  Brandimart,  Rinaldo, 
and  all  the  knights,  baptized  or  infidel,  who 
had  been  taken  at  the  bridge.  The  only 
unhappy  person  amid  this  joyous  band  was 
Ziliantes,  the  minion  of  Morgana.  This  youth 
remained  behind  weeping ;  and  time  will  come, 
says  the  author,  when  Orlando  will  repent  of 
having  yielded  to  the  entreaties  of  the  fairy. 

The  others,  now  delivered  from  their  cap- 
tivity, together  with  Orlando,  ascending  a  lofty 
stair"  issued  into  the  field  of  treasure,  where 
was  to  be  seen  the  king  and  his  court,  all  com- 
posed of  the  richest  materials  in  the  world. 
Rinaldo,  on  finding  himself  amid  this  mass  of 
wealth,  could  not  resist  the  temptation  of  seizing 
a  gold  seat  that  stood  in  his  way,  which,  he 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  189 

observed,  would  feed  his  hungry  garrison  of 
Mont  Albano.  This  he  was  bearing  off,  notwith- 
standing the  remonstrances  of  Orlando,  when 
a  violent  wind  blew  him  back  as  often  as  he 
approached  the  gate,  by  which  they  were  re- 
tiring. Rinaldo  at  length  yielded  to  necessity^ 
rather  than  to  the  entreaties  of  his  comrades, 
and  cast  away  his  prize.  All  now  climbing 
another  immeasurable  stair,  ascended  into  the 
upper  world,  and  found  themselves  in  the  field 
decorated  with  their  arms. 

Here  each  knight  resumed  his  own ;  and  all 
except  the  paladins  and  their  friends,  separated, 
as  their  inclinations  or  duty  prompted.  It 
was  now  that  Dudon  informed  the  cousins 
that  he  had  been  made  prisoner  by  Morgana, 
when  in  the  discharge  of  an-  embassy  to  them 
from  Charlemagne,  who  called  .  upon  them  to 
return  to  the  defence  of  Christendom.  Orlando 
is  too  much  fascinated  by  Angelica,  to  obey  tin's 
summons ;  and,  followed  by  the  faithful  Bran-. 


190  THE   ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

dimart,  returns  towards  Albracca.  Rinaldo, 
accompanied  by  Dudon,  Iroldo  and  Prasildo, 
takes  his  way  towards  the  west. 

These,  though  unprovided  with  horses,  (for 
their  coursers  were  lost  at  the  bridge,)  went 
laughing  and  talking  on  their  way.  Their 
journey  was  without  adventures  till  the  sixth 
day,  when  they  heard  a  horn  sound  from  a 
neighbouring  castle.  From  this  they  were 
divided  by  a  river,  and  near  the  opposite  bank 
was  a  small  bark,  with  a  damsel  in  the  stern, 
who  proflercd  them  a  passage. 

Arrived  on  the  other  shore,  she  tells  them 
they  must  account  for  this  with  the  warder, 
who  was  then  approaching.  This  was  an  old 
man  mounted  on  a  heavy  steed,  and  surrounded 
by  a  numerous  escort.  He  informs  the  knights, 
that  they  are  upon  the  territory  of  the  king 
Monodontes,  from  which  they  will  not  be  suf- 
fered to  depart,  before  they  have  rendered  him 
a  day's  service.  This  was  to  avenge  him 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  191 

of  a  certain  enemy  named  Balisardo,  at  once 
a  giant  and  enchanter,  who  kept  a  bridge, 
flanked  with  towers,  near  the  mouth  of  the 
river  which  they  had  crossed,  and  who  had 
put  many  scorns  upon  that  monarch  and  those 
who  travelled  to  his  realm. 

Nothing  more  agreeable  could  have  been 
proposed  to  the  warriors,  and  they  reimbark  in 
the  damsel's  skiff  for  the  purpose  of  seeking 
the  necromancer.  • 

The  event  of  the  combat  was,  however,  very 
different  from  what  they  had  anticipated. 
Encountering  the  giant  singly,  they  all  became 
the  victims  of  his  enchantments,  and  were  cast 
into  his  dungeons,  already  peopled  with  illus- 
trious knights,  amongst  whom'  was  Astolpho 
of  England. 

This  prince,  in  company  with  the  two  damsels 
before  mentioned,  had  gone  about  the  world, 
with  Bayardo  and  Rabican,  weeping  the  loss  of 
Rinaldo,  whom  he  saw  go  to  the  bottom  of  the 


192  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  If. 

enchanted  lake  with  Arridano.  Wandering 
thence,  he  had  arrived  on  the  same  spot  where 
Rinaldo  and  his  comrades  afterwards  found 
themselves ;  like  them  he  had  ferried  the  river 
in  die  damsel's  boat,  like  them,  had  been  dis- 
patched against  Balisardo  ;  and,  like  them,  had 
been  made  prisoner  by  the  wizard,  who  en- 
snared him,  under"  the  form  of  a  damsel. 

In  the  mean  time,  Orlando,  who  had  parted 
company  with  Rinaldo,  and  the   rest,  was  re-    . 
turning,   with    Brandimart,    towards  Albracca 
On   his  way  thither   he,  to  his   surprise,  saw 
Marphisa  in  chase  of  Brunello,  and  contemp-  , 
lating  the  two,  was  himself  robbed  of  his  horn, 
and  Baiisarda. 

As  both  he  and  Brandimart  were  on  foot,  to 
chase  the  robber  was  useless;  leaving,  therefore, 
Marphisa  still  in  pursuit,  the  two  warriors  pro- 
ceeded on  their  way.  Pursuing  this,  they  too 
arrived  at  die  same  ferry  as  Rinaldo  had,  and 
there  found  two  damsels  assailing  each  other 


HOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  193 

with  reproaches,  the  one  in  a  boat,  and  the 
other  on  horseback.  Orlando  immediately 
recognized  the  latter  for  Origilla,  who  had 
stolen  Brigliadoro  and  Durindana,  previous  to 
his  entering  the  garden  of  Orgagna.  His  re- 
sentment, however,  was  forgotten  on  seeing  her ; 
and  he  received  her  again  into  his  company, 
embarking,  as  the  others  had  done,  for  the 
adventure  of  Balisardo. 

In  this  his  usual  fortune  deserted  him,  and 
having  been  vanquished  by  the  enchantments  of 
the  giant,  he  was  cast  on  board  a  miserable 
prison-ship,  in  order  to  be  transported  to  some 
distant  dungeons. 

From  this  he  is,  however,  delivered  by  the 
valour  of  Brandimart*,  who  slays  the  giant, 

*  The  reader  will  have  remarked  that  a  vein  of  allegory, 
more  or  less  apparent,  runs  through  the  whole  of  the  romance. 
This  observation  will,  perhaps,  serve  to  explain  the  defeat  of 
Orlando,  and  the  subsequent  triumph  of  Brandimart.  Or- 
lando,  by  his  love  of  vice,  as  figured  in  Origilla,  has  derogated 


194  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

and  rescues  Orlando  from  captivity.  The  two 
champions  now  interrogate  the  master  of  the  pri- 
son-ship; who  tells  them  that  the  wizard-giant  was 
the  instrument  of  a  certain  king,  called  Mono- 
dontes,  who  dwelt  in  Damogir,  an  island  situ- 
ated in  the  ocean;  where  he  had  amassed 
riches,  which  surpassed  the  imagination  to 
conceive.  As,  something  is  always  wanting  to 
the  completion  of  human  happiness,  this  prince 
was  miserable  in  the  loss  of  his  two  only  sons, 
the  first  of  whom  was  carried  off,  in  his  child- 
hood, by  a  slave  of  the  name  of  Bardino,  and 
the  second  taken  and  imprisoned  by  a  fairy 
named  Morgana,  who  was  said  to  be  ena- 
moured of  the  youth. 

The  ship-master,  pursuing  his  story,   stated 
that  the    fairy    had  offered    to    surrender    the 


from  his  natural  self,  and  forfeited  the  protection  of  Pro- 
vidence, while  Brandimarttthe  model  of  purity  and  constancy, 
is  proof  against  all  the  powers  of  hell. 


BOOK  II.  INNAMOUATO.  195 

stripling  to  his  father,  upon  his  putting  her 
in  possession  of  a  certain  knight,  entitled  Or- 
lando, with  whom  she  was  at  enmity,  on  ac- 
count of  his  having  destroyed  her  enchant- 
ments. This  the  necromancer,  overcome  by 
Brandimart,  had  offered  to  effect  for  Mono- 
dontes,  but  had  never  succeeded,  though  he  had 
crowded  his  dungeons  with  champions ;  amongst 
whom  were  Rinaldo,  Astolpho,  Dudon,  Gryphon 
and  Aquilant,  and  others,  too  many  to  mention. 

Orlando  listened  to  the  narration  in  silence : 
then,  after  some  secret  conference  with  the 
ship-master,  bade  him  make  sail  for  Damogir, 
as  he  and  Brandimart  were  now  masters  of  the 
vessel,  for  he  was  minded  to  put  this  Orlando 
into  the  hands  of  Monodontes.  He  obeys  his 
command,  and  the  ship,  after  traversing  the 
ocean,  arrives  with  them  at  the  island. 

Here  the    proposal   was   renewed    by   the 
knights,  and  accepted  by  Monodontes ;   who, 
waiting  the  accomplishment  of  their  promise, 
o  2 


196  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

lodged  them  in  a  magnificent  palace  near  his 
own.  Here  too  was  guested  the  infamous 
Origilla,  who  was  privy  to  Orlando's  de- 
sign. She  having  her  mind  entirely  set  upon 
Gryphon,  who  (it  will  be  remembered)  was 
amongst  the  prisoners  of  Monodontes,  and 
thinking  she  was  possessed  of  sure  means  of 
delivering  him,  secretly  presented  herself  before 
the  king,  and  informed  him  that  Orlando  was 
in  his  power. 

As  the  covenanted  reward  of  her  service, 
Monodontes  ordered  Gryphon  to  be  delivered 
up  to  her;  and  he  refusing  freedom,  unless 
Aquilant  was  at  the  same  time  freed,  both  were 
set  at  liberty,  and  departed  with  Origilla. 

To  take  Orlando  was  a  more  difficult  enter- 
prise ;  but  this  was  accomplished  through  the 
means  of  a  potion,  by  which  both  he  and  Brandi- 
mart  were  put  to  sleep,  and,  while  stupefied  by  the 
liquor,  lodged  in  the  dungeons  of  Monodontes.' 
In  the  solitude  of  their  prison  Orlando  converts 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  197 

Brandimart  to  the  Christian  faith;  and  this 
knight,  who  appears  to  be  the  type  of  friendship 
and  virtuous  love,  upon  the  guards  of  the  mo- 
narch coming  in  search  of  Orlando,  announces 
himself  as  the  person  sought  for,  and  as  such 
presents  himself  to  Monodontes. 

This  monarch  tells  Brandimart,  whom  he 
imagines  to  be  Orlando,  that  he  seeks  the 
liberation  of  his  son  Ziliantes ;  and  as  he  knows 
no  method  of  obtaining  him  from  the  fairy,  but 
by  such  a  sacrifice,  is  reluctantly  compelled  . 
to  offer  hun  in  exchange  for  the  royal  captive. 
To  which  Brandimart  replies,  that  if  he  only 
seeks  this,  he  may  obtain  his  end  without 
such  a  breach  of  hospitality,  as  his  comrade 
is  ready  to  descend  to  the  dungeons  of  Mor- 
gana, where  he  has  already  been,  and  rescue 
him  by  force.  That  in  the  meantime  he  will 
remain  as  his  hostage,  and  if  he  whom  he  is  to 
free  does  not,  within  a  month,  return  with 
Ziliantes,  the  king  can,  at  the  worst,  accomplish 
o  3 


198  TliL    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

die  deliverance  of  his  son,  by  giving  him  up 
(the  king  believing  him  to  be  Orlando)  to  the 
vengeance  of  Morgana. 

Monodontes  accedes  to  this  proposal,  and  the 
real  Orlando  is  suffered  to  depart. 

In  the  meantime  Brandimart,  always  under 
the  name  of  Orlando,  remains  for  some  time  a 
prisoner  at  large ;  when  the  secret  is  discovered, 
through  the  indiscretion  of  Astolpho,  and  Mo- 
nodontes in  fury  orders  Brandimart  to  be  cast 
into  a  dungeon,  preparatory  to  his  expiating 
his  imposture  by  death.  Orlando  this  while  is 
bound  upon  his  adventure,  and  arriving  at  the 
lake  formerly  kept  by  Arridano,  finds  upon  its 
banks  a  beautiful  lady  weeping  over  a  dead 
dragon. 

While  Orlando  contemplates  this  spectacle 
with  surprise,  the  lady  snatches  up  the  dragon 
in  her  arms,  and  embarks  with  it  in  a  Little 
pinnace,  which  was  moored  hard  by.  She  now 
loosens  from  the  shore,  sets  her  sail,  and  having 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  199 

reached  the  middle  of  the  lake,  sinks  to  the 
bottom  with  her  enchanted  barque. 

Orlando  was  yet  absorbed  in  wonder  at  what 
he  had  witnessed,  when  another  damsel  ar- 
rived upon  the  bank,  mounted  on  a  palfrey, 
and  accompanied  by  a  single  sergeant,  who 
called  upon  the  count  by  name,  and  expressed 
the  greatest  pleasure  at  his  sight. 

This  damsel  was  no  other  than  Flordelis,  the 
lady-love  of  Brandimart ;  the  damsel  of  the 
barque,  it  will  be  easily  divined,  was  Morgana. 

This  fairy,  upon  the  departure  of  Orlando 
from  her  enchanted  garden,  transformed  Zili- 
antes,  by  the  aid  of  certain  witcheries,  into  a 
dragon,  meaning  that  he  should  supply  the 
place  of  Arridano  and  keep  the  avenues  of  her 
territory.  Whether,  however,  from  some  error 
in  her  enchantments  or  other  cause,  the  trans- 
formation was  no  sooner  completed  than  the 
youth  uttered  a  shriek  and  expired.  Hence 
the  fairy,  distracted  with  her  loss,  had  embarked 
o  4 


200  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

with  him  in  the  pinnace,  and  descended  to  the 
bottom  of  the  lake,  hi  the  hope  of  re-animating 
him  in  her  world  below. 

As  soon  as  Flordelis,  who  was  immediately 
recognised  by  the  count,  had  set  eyes  upon 
him,  she  conjured  him  to  lend  her  his  assist- 
ance ;  and,  that  he  might  understand  for  what 
purpose,  entreated  him  to  listen  to  her  story, 
which  she  began  in  the  following  words. 

"  I  was  wandering  in  search  of  Brandimart, 
when  I  fell  in  with  the  sergeant,  whom  you  see 
with  me ;  and  who,  by  a  strange  fortune,  turn- 
ed out  to  be  one  who  was  also  in  search  of  him. 
His  story  was  yet  more  extraordinary  than  the 
accident  which  brought  us  together,  and  is  the 
cause  of  my  present  distress.  He  informed  me 
that  he  was  formerly  a  slave  of  the  king  Mono- 
dontes,  and  named  Bardino;  who,  to  avenge 
himself  upon  the  monarch  for  some  wrong,  con- 
veyed away  from  him  his  eldest  son,  and  sold 
him  to  the  lord  of  the  Svlvan  Tower ;  who 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  201 

conceived  such  fondness  for  him,  that  he  brought 
him  up  as  his  son,  and  dying,  left  him  his  pos- 
sessions. 

"  His  love  of  arms,  however,  carried  him 
away  from  the  Tower,  of  which  he  had  made 
Bardino  castellan;  and  this  was  attacked  by 
a  neighbour  named  Rupardo,  in  his  absence, 
with  such  forces  as  rendered  a  defence  hopeless. 
Under  these  circumstances  Bardino,  had  cast 
lots  to  learn  the  fate  of  Brandimart,  and  found 
that  he  was  prisoner  to  Morgana.  Hence  it  is," 
pursued  the  damsel,  "  that  I  entreat  you  to  lend 
your  assistance  to  recover  him  from  her  power." 

Orlando  related  in  return  what  had  since 
happened  to  Brandimart,  and,  lastly,  how  he 
had  left  him  in  the  power  of  Monodontes, 
meaning  to  redeem  him,  by  the  recovery  of 
Ziliantes,  from  the  prisons  of  Morgana. 

The  damsel  heard  Orlando's  recital  with 
gratitude,  and,  throwing  herself  on  her  knees, 


202  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

prayed  devoutly  for  the   success  of  his  under- 
taking. 

He  immediately  entered  upon  his  adventure. 
Descending  by  the  entrance,  through  which 
he  had  formerly  ascended  into  the  upper 
air,  and  which  he  remembered,  though  con- 
cealed by  briars  and  thorns,  he  again  traversed 
the  field  of  treasure,  and  saw  the  golden  seat, 
lying  in  the  very  place  where  Rinaldo  had  been 
obliged  to  abandon  it. 

Thus  pursuing  his  old  path,  he  came  upon 
Morgana  near  the  fountain,  where  he  had  for- 
merly found  her  disporting  herself. 

She  was  this  time  engaged  in  a  very  diffe- 
rent occupation,  and  was  caressing  Ziliantes, 
who  had  now  resumed  the  human  form,  but 
remained  yet  pale,  and  terrified  by  the  effects 
of  the  metamorphose.  The  count  does  not 
again  neglect  his  opportunity,  but,  seizing  the 
fairy  by  the  forelock,  compels  her  to  abandon 


BOOK  II.  1NNAMORATO.  203 

her  prisoner.  Orlando  returning  into  light 
with  Ziliantes  by  the  ancient  staircase,  finds 
Flordelis  yet  engaged  in  prayer,  and  now  all 
journeying  to  the  coast,  which  was  near,  and 
embarking  upon  the  ocean,  arrive  safely  at 
Damogir. 

The  delight  of  Monodontes  at  the  recovery 
of  his  two  sons,  when  he  had  despaired 
of  even  retrieving  Ziliantes,  may  be  easily 
imagined:  king  and  people  become  Christians; 
Rinaldo,  Astolpho,  Dudon,  and  the  other  pri- 
soners are  set  at  liberty ;  all  is  festivity,  and  the 
offence  of  Bardino  is  forgiven,  in  consequence 
of  his  subsequent  attachment  to  Brandimart. 
To  complete  the  general  joy,  a  lady  arrives  at 
this  period,  who  is  recognized  as  the  daughter 
of  Monodontes  and  the  damsel  of  the  golden 
apples. 

But  human  life  is  chequered  by  light  and 
shade.  The  long  continued  festivities  of 
Damogir  are  broken  in  upon  by  Dudon 


204-  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

the  Dane,  who  reminds  the  princes  of  their 
obligation  to  hurry  to  the  defence  of  Christen- 
dom. 

Rinaldo  and  all  the  Franks  obey  the  sum- 
mons, with  the  exception  of  Orlando ;  who, 
accompanied  by  Brandimart,  his  inseparable 
companion,  returns  towards  Albracca.  In 
the  meantime  Rinaldo,  Iroldo,  Prasildo,  and 
the  others,  with  Astolpho  in  the  midst,  armed 
with  his  lance  of  gold,  set  forward  on  their 
return  to  France. 

Travelling  thus,  north  about,  into  Europe, 
the  knights  found  themselves  one  morning  in 
front  of  a  beautiful  castle  and  garden  on  the 
sea-shore.  This  was  the  domain  of  Alcina, 
sister  of  Morgana,  and  queen  of  the  Atarberi. 
The  fay  herself  was  standing  on  the  beach, 
and  amusing  herself  with  taking  fish,  which  she 
inveigled  by  her  enchantments. 

She  herself  was  ensnared  by  the  beauties  of 
Astolpho,  whom  she  invited  to  pass  into  a 


BOOK  II.  1NNAMORATO.  205 

neighbouring  island,  in  order  to  hear  the  music 
of  a  syren  who  frequented  it. 

Astolpho  crosses  on  horseback  into  the 
island,  which  lay  close  to  the  shore ;  but  this 
is  in  motion  as  soon  as  he  reaches  it,  and  proves 
to  be  a  large  whale,  which  was  a  minister 
of  the  fairy.  Rinaldo  and  Dudon  instantly 
swim  off  to  his  assistance,  but  the  horse  of 
Dudon  sinking  with  his  rider,  Rinaldo  is 
.  compelled  to  swim  Bayardo  to  the  relief  of  the 
Dane,  whom  he  succeeds  in  bringing  to  shore.. 
Meantime  the  whale  floats  out  of  sight,  and  a 
terrible  tempest  obscures  both  sky  and  ocean.  - 

To  succour  Astolpho'  was  now'  impossible,1 
and  the  confederated  champions  continued  their 
journey  to  the  westward. 

Pursuing  this,  they  at  last  arrived  at  Buda 
in  Hungary,  whence  the  king  of  that  country 
was  dispatching  his  son  Ottachiero  with  a  large 
army  to  the  succour  of  Charlemagne.  De- 
lighted with  the  arrival  of  Rinaldo,  he  placed 


20G  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

his  son  and  troops  under  this  conduct,  and 
these  having,  after  long  and  distant  marches, 
united  themselves  with  the  troops  of  Desiderius 
king  of  Lombardy,  passed  the  Genovese  Alps, 
and  poured  down  into  Provence. 

The  confederate  armies  had  not  marched 
many  days  through  this  gay  tract,  before  they 
heard  a  crash  of  drums  and  trumpets  behind 
the  hills,  which  spoke  the  conflict  between  the 
paynims,  led  by  Rodomont,  and  the  Christian 
forces. 

Rinaldo,  witnessing  from  a  mountain  the 
prowess  of  Rodomont,  leaves  his  troops  in 
charge  of  his  friends,  and  gallops  towards  him 
with  "his  lance  in  the  rest.  The  impulse  is 
irresistible,  and  Rodomont  is  unhorsed.  Ri- 
naldo, however,  in  a  high  spirit  of  chivalry, 
gallops  back  to  the  hill  from  which  he  had 
descended,  secures  Bayardo  amongst  the  bag- 
gage, and  returns  to  pursue  the  combat  with 
his  former  antagonist  on  foot. 


BOOK  II.  INNARIORATO.  207 

During  this  interval  the  battle  had  become 
general,  the  Hungarians  were  routed  by  Ro- 
domont, and  Rinaldo,  on  his  return,  had  the 
mortification  to  find  that  Ottachiero  was. 
wounded,  and  Dudon  a  prisoner. 

He  now  again  engages  Rodomont ;  when  in 
the  midst  of  their  strife,  a  new  sound  of  drums 
and  trumpets  was  heard,  and  die  army  of 
Charlemagne  was  descried  advancing  in  bat- 
talia. 

Rodomont,  who  had  in  the  meantime 
mounted  the  horse  of  Dudon,  leaves  Rinaldo, 
who  was  on  foot,  and  gallops  to  the  attack 
of  the  enemy.  A  desperate  battle  ensues,  but 
night  separates  the  combatants. 

Rodomont  now  thinks  only  of  Rinaldo,  and 
deceived  by  a  false  report,  sets  off  in  pursuit  of 
him  towards  the  forest  of  Arden. 

Rinaldo,  however,  having  this  time  gone  in 
search  of  Bayardo,  was  returning  towards  the 
field  upon  that  courser,  when  he  fell  in  with 


208  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

the  Saracens,  engaged  in  carrying  aboard  their 
ships  the  plunder,  and  the  prisoners  made  in 
battle.  Some  of  these  had  already  sailed  for 
Africa  with  Dudon,  while  Rinaldo,  still  seeking 
Rodomont,  makes  a  tremendous  carnage  among 
the  rest. 

He  at  last  learns  that  his  adversary,  following 
a  false  scent,  is  gone  towards  Merlin's  fountain, 
in  the  forest  of  Arden,  when  he  quits  the  pur- 
suit of  the  Saracens,  in  order  to  follow  him. 

Rodomont  was  in  the  meantime  far  advanced 
upon  .his  way,  when  he  fell  in  with  a  strange 
cavalier,  that  proved  to  be  Ferrau,  who  had,  it 
seems,  returned  to  France,  in  search  of  Ange- 
lica. The  two  knights  mixing  in  conversation, 
their  talk,  according  to  the  practice  of  chivalry, 
turned  upon  love,  when  Ferrau  spoke  of  Do- 
ralice,  daughter  of  Stordilano,  king  of  Granada, 
as  a  lady  to  whom  he  had  been  a  suitor.  Ro- 
domont, kindling  at  this,  avowed  his  passion  for 
her,  declared  he  would  bear  with  no  rival  in  his 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  209 

love,  and  bade  him  resign  all  pretensions  to 
her,  or  take  his  ground  and  defend  himself. 
Ferrau  replied,  that  he  had  loved  her  and  left 
her;  but  that  he  would  now  love  her  in  his 
despite. 

A  duel  ensues,  but  the  author  leaves  the 
knights  engaged,  in  order  to  pursue  the  story 
of  Rinaldo.  He,  still  seeking  his  pursuer, 
Rodomont,  misses  him,  whilst  he  is  engaged  in 
combat  with  Ferrau;  and  wandering  into  a 
sylvan  lawn,  in  the  middle  of  the  forest  of 
Arden,  is  surprised  by  the  vision  of  a  beau- 
tiful child,  dancing  naked,  with  three  damsels, 
as  naked  and  as  beautiful  as  himself.  While 
he  is  lost  in  admiration  at  the  sight,  the  child 
approaches  him,  and  smiting  on  his  helmet  with 
a  bunch  of  roses  and  lilies,  strikes  him  from  his 
horse.  He  is  no  sooner  down  than  he  is  seized 
by  the  dancers,  by  whom  he  is  dragged  about 
and  scourged  with  flowers  till  he  falls  into  a 
swoon.  While  he  is  yet  absorbed  in  this,  one 
p 


210  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

of  the  group  approaches  him,  who  says  her 
name  is  Pasiphae;  that  his  punishment  is  the 
consequence  of  his  rebellion  against  that  power, 
before  whom  every  thing  bends ;  and  that  there 
is  but  one  remedy  that  can  heal  the  wounds 
which  have  been  inflicted ;  and  this  is,  to 
drink  of  the  waters  of  Love. 

Rinaldo,  sore  and  faint,  drags  himself  into 
the  neighbouring  wood,  and  being  parched  with 
thirst,  drinks  greedily,  and  almost  unconsciously, 
of  a  spring  which  he  finds  there.  After  repeated 
draughts  of  the  water,  which  is  sweet  to  the 
taste,  but  bitter  at  the  heart,  he  recovers  his 
strength  and  recollection,  and  finds  himself  in 
the  same  place  where  Angelica  had  formerly 
awakened  him  with  a  rain  of  flowers,  and 
whence  he  had  fled  in  contempt  of  her  courtesy. 

His  remembrance  of  the  scene  is  followed  by 
the  recognition  of  his  crime;  and,  repenting 
bitterly  of  his  ingratitude,  he  leaps  upon  Bay- 
ardo  with  the  intention  of  following  Angelica 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  211 

to  India,  and  soliciting  his  pardon  at  her  feet. 
He  has  not  ridden  far  with  this  intention, 
when  he  beholds,  at  a  distance,  a  damsel 
mounted  upon  a  palfrey,  attended  by  a  cavalier 
who  bore  a  burning  mountain  for  his  device : 
but,  before  explaining  who  were  the  damsel  and 
knight,  the  author  returns  to  Marphisa,  lately 
left  in  pursuit  of  Brunello. 

She  had  now  hunted  him  for  fifteen  days. 
Her  horse  had  sunk  under  her  during  the 
chase ;  and  she  had  cast  away  her  arms,  to  be 
the  better  able  to  pursue  him. 

Her  pains  were  thrown  away.  Brunello 
arrived  before  her  at  the  sea-side,  and  finding  a 
vessel  ready  to  sail,  embarked,  and  arrived  at 
Biserta,  in  Africa.  Here  he  found  Agramant, 
who  was  impatient  for  the  ring,  which  was  to  foil 
the  enchantments  of  Atlantes  and  to  put  Rogero 
into  his  hands.  The  dwarf,  now  kneeling  be-; 
fore  die  king,  related  his  story,  and  presented 
him  with  the  ring  of  Angelica,  and  the  horn 
p  2 


212  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

stolen  from  Orlando;  when  Agramant,  delighted 
at  the  success  of  his  mission,  crowned  him,  in 
recompense,  king  of  Tingitana. 

All  are  now  anxious  to  go  in  quest  of  Ro- 
gero,  nor  will  Brunello  be  left  behind.  The 
cavalcade  accordingly  departs,  and  having 
traversed  the  Great  Desert,  arrives  at  the 
mountain  of  Carena. 

At  the  bottom  of  this  was  a  fruitful  and 
well-wooded  plain,  watered  by  a  large  river, 
which  traversed  it  in  its  way  to  the  sea ;  and 
.from  this  plain  was  descried  a  beautiful  garden 
on  the  mountain-top,  which  contained  the  man- 
sion of  Atlantes :  but  the  ring,  which  discovered 
what  was  before  invisible,  could  not,  though  it 
revealed  this  paradise,  enable  Agramant  or 
his  followers  to  enter  it.  So  steep  and  smooth 
was  the  rock  by  nature,  that  none  could  scale 
it;  and  even  Brunello  was  obliged  to  renounce 
the  attempt.  He  did  not,  however,  for  this, 
despair  of  accomplishing  the  object  of  the  en- 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  213 

terprise;  and,  having  obtained  Agramant's 
approbation,  caused  the  assembled  courtiers 
and  knights  to  celebrate  a  tournament  upon  the 
plain  below.  This  was  done  with  the  view  of 
seducing  Rogero  from  his  fastness,  and  the 
stratagem  was  attended  with  success. 

Rogero  joins  the  tourney,  presented  by  Bru- 
nello  with  Sacripant's  horse,  Frontilatte,  (whose 
name  is  afterwards  changed  into  Frontino,)  and 
with  Balisarda,  the  sword  of  Orlando.  In  the 
medley  he  is  treacherously  wounded,  but  avenges 
himself  of  the  traitor ;  and,  returning  to  the 
summit  of  the  mountain,  is  healed  by  the  skill 
and  attention  of  Atlantes,  having  previously 
learned  from  Brunello  the  preparations  which 
were  making  for  the  invasion  of  France,  and 
having  indeed  received  his  horse  and  arms,  as 
an  earnest  for  his  service  in  the  expedition. 

The  author  now  leaves  him  again  on  the 
mountain  of  Carena,  to  accompany  Orlando 
and  Brandimart. 

p  3 


'  214  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK    II. 

These  two,  having  separated  from  Rinaldo, 
Astolpho,  and  the  rest,  were  pursuing  their 
journey  through  India,  when  they  found  them- 
selves near  a  stone,  situated  by  a  fountain,  where 
sate  a  lady,  having  her  eyes  fixed  upon  the 
ground,  while  a  bridge,  which  divided  two 
roads  hard  by,  was  kept  by  an  armed  knight. 

While  Orlando  and  Brandimart  were  en- 
gaged in  a  friendly  contest,  who  should  first 
encounter  him,  a  pilgrim  advanced  towards 
the  bridge,  notwithstanding  the  prohibition  of 
him  who  kept  it ;  and  finding  that  the  knight 
approached  in  order  to  enforce  his  threat,  cast 
off  his  pilgrim's  slough,  and  showed  that  he 
was  armed  cap-a-pe.  A  fierce  combat  now 
ensued,  between  him  and  the  warder  of  the 
bridge,  whom  both  Brandimart  and  Orlando 
thought  they  had  seen  before,  but  could  not 
recognise,  through  the  strangeness  of  his  dis- 
guise. In  this  strife  the  pilgrim  at  last  sue- 


BOOK   II.  INNAMORATO.  215 

ceeded  in  making  the  warder  give  ground,  and 
retire  slowly  from  his  post. 

On  the  other  side  of  the  bridge,  and  near 
the  fountain  which  formed  the  stream,  was  a 
monument,  which  an  inscription  proclaimed  to 
be  the  sepulchre  of  Narcissus. 

Contemplating  himself  in  the  neighbouring 
fountain,  he  had  pined  away ;  and  his  death  was 
productive  of  new  calamities.  The  fairy  Sil- 
vanella,  as  her  evil  destiny  would  have  it,  pass- 
ing near  the  body,  fell  in  love  with  the  dead 
youth,  whom  she  entombed  in  this  mausoleum 
of  alabaster.  Here,  too,  consumed  by  hopeless 
passion,  she  perished,  and  left  this  dying  curse 
upon  the  waters  ;  that  who  contemplated  them 
should  see  pourtrayed  there  such  a  vision  of 
beauty,  that  they  should  become  incapable  of 
departing  from  the  place. 

Many,  who  had  arrived  upon  the  banks  of 
the  river,  in  consequence  of  her  malediction, 
remained  gazing  upon  the  stream,  till  they 
p  4- 


216  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

expired.  Among  these  was  the  gentle  king 
Larbiho,  who  came  there  with  his  leman  Cali- 
dora,  who  remained  inconsolable  for  his  loss, 
and  took  up  her  dwelling  in  the  meadow,  where 
he  died.  This  is  she,  who  sits  weeping  by  the 
water-side,  and  whose  champion  maintains  the 
bridge  against  all  comers. 

And  such  was  the  tale  she  told  Orlando, 
whom  she  conjured,  in  favour  of  her  pious 
intentions,  to  aid  her  cavalier,  hard  pressed  by 
the  pilgrim. 

Orlando,  moved  by  her  prayer,  thrust  him- 
self between  the  combatants,  whom  he  separated, 
and  recognized  one  for  Sacripant,  and  the  other 
for  Isoliero.  Isoliero  had  accompanied  the  lady 
from  Spain  to  India,  for  the  purpose  of  render- 
ing her  this  service ;  and  Sacripant  had  been 
dispatched  (as  was  said)  by  Angelica,  to  king 
Gradasso,  for  assistance,  towards  whose  king- 
dom he  was  now  upon  his  way. 

When  the  count  had  learned  from  this  mo- 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  217 

narch  the  object  of  his  journey,  and  the  peril 
of  Angelica,  he  fled  with  Brandimart,  from  the 
dangerous  water,  mindful  of  the  fate  of  those 
that  had  perished  there ;  leaving  Isoliero,  who 
had  been  severely  wounded  by  Sacripant,  in 
the  company  of  Calidora. 

While  Orlando  took  his  way  to  Albracca,  Sa- 
cripant took  up  the  pilgrim's  garb  and  staff,  and 
pursued  his  towards  the  kingdom  of  Gradasso. 

Orlando,  arriving  before  Albracca,  finds  it 
closely  beleaguered.  He,  however,  makes  his 
way  into  the  citadel,  and  relates  his  adventures 
to  Angelica,  from  the  time  of  his  departure, 
up  to  his  separation  from  Rinaldo  and  the  rest, 
when  they  departed  to  the  assistance  of  Charle- 
magne. Angelica,  in  return,  described  the 
distresses  of  the  garrison,  and  the  force  of  the 
besiegers;  and  in  conclusion,  prayed  Orlando 
to  favour  her  escape  from  the  pressing  danger, 
and  escort  her  into  France.  Orlando,  who 
did  not  suspect  that  love  for  Rinaldo,  who  had 


218  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

returned  thither,  was  her  secret  motive,  joyfully 
agreed  to  the  proposal,  and  the  sally  was  resolved. 

Leaving  lights  burning  in  the  fortress,  they 
departed  at  night-fall,  and  passed  in  safety 
through  the  enemy's  camp.  On  the  ensuing 
day,  however,  the  besiegers  discovered  the  de- 
ceit, stormed  and  sacked  the  citadel,  and  then 
pursued  the  deserters. 

Of  these,  Orlando  went  first,  escorting  An- 
gelica and  Flordelis,  while  Brandimart  covered 
their  retreat.  In  consequence  of  this  arrange- 
ment, Brandimart  was  separated  one  night 
from  his  companions,  while  Orlando  and  the 
two  damsels  were  advancing  on  their  way. 

As  these  last,  sorely  tormented  by  hunger, 
were  entering  a  valley  at  sunset,  they  saw,  at 
the  other  extremity,  a  party  of  Lestrigonians, 
seated  at  their  supper,  and  immediately  gal- 
loped towards  them ;  Orlando  first,  but  fol- 
lowed by  the  damsels.  Arriving  amongst  these 
cannibals,  he  prayed  them,  either  for  courtesy 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  219 

or  hire,  to  give  them  food ;  and,  being  re- 
ceived with  a  feigned  hospitality,  had  already 
dismounted  from  his  horse,  in  order  to  take 
some  refreshment,  when  the  leader  of  the  party, 
coming  behind  him,  dealt  a  blow  with  his  club, 
that  laid  him  senseless  on  the  ground.  The 
damsels,  who  had  just  come  up,  terrified  at 
this  catastrophe,  fled  different  ways,  pursued 
by  a  party  of  the  Lestrigonians. 

During  this  time,  the.  others  had  stript  Or- 
lando of  his  arms ;  and  were  handling  him,  to 
see  if  he  was  fat,  when  he  was  awakened  by  the 
operation.  Possessing  himself  of  Durindana, 
he  soon  cleared  the  field  of  the  cannibals,  and 
was  seeking  an  outlet  from  the  valley,  when 
he  recognized  Angelica,  hunted  by  those  who 
had  pursued  her  and  Flordelis.  To  save  her, 
and  avenge  her  of  the  miscreants,  was  the 
work  of  a  moment. 

It  was  said  that  the  two  damsels  separated 
in  their  flight ;  in  directing  which,  chance  con- 


220  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

ducted  each  towards  her  natural  protector ;  for 
Flordelis,  flying  east,  whilst  Angelica  fled  west, 
galloped  towards  a  wood,  where  Brandimart 
was  sleeping,  after  having  long  sought  his  com- 
panions in  vain.  Brandimart  was  as  prompt  in 
rescuing  her,  as  Orlando  was  in  saving  Ange- 
lica. It  is  needless  to  describe  his  transports 
on  this  occasion :  these  were,  however,  of  short 
duration ;  and  he  heard,  with  the  bitterest 
regret,  the  narrative  of  Flordelis,  who,  relating 
what  she  believed  she  had  witnessed,  informed 
him  she  had  left  Orlando  dead  upon  the  field. 

Returning  with  Brandimart  towards  the  spot 
where  she  had  left  the  count,  a  strange  adven- 
ture for  a  long  time  delayed  their  search ;  for 
they  had  not  ridden  far,  before  they  fell  in  with 
a  cavalier  on  foot,  unarmed,  except  as  to  his 
sword,  who  defied  Brandimart  to  battle ;  and 
while  he,  in  a  spirit  of  generosity,  refused 
the  challenge,  snatched  Flordelis  from  her 
palfrey,  and  running  up  a  steep  rock  with  his 


BOOK  II.  INN  AMOR  ATO.  221 

burden,  threatened  to  throw  her  down  a  preci- 
pice, unless  Brandimart  ransomed  her  with  his 
armour  and  his  steed. 

As  Brandimart's  armour  rendered  it  impos- 
sible for  him  to  pursue,  he  consented  to  the 
sacrifice;  and  the  stranger  appropriated  the 
spoils.  This  was  Marphisa,  who  had  thrown- 
by  her  arms,  in  order  to  pursue  Brunello,  and 
who,  finding  the  chace  hopeless,  took  this 
method  to  equip  herself  anew. 

Brandimart,  now  reduced  to  his  tunick,  and 
deprived  of  his  courser,  mounted  the  damsel's 
palfrey,  seated  her  on  the  croup,  and  pro- 
ceeded on  his  way. 

They  were  doomed  to  experience  new  dan- 
gers and  interruptions.  For  journeying  thus, 
they  fell  in  with  a  band  of  robbers,  from  whom 
Brandimart  fled,  in  the  hope  of  finding  some 
means  of  defence.  His  hope  was  realized ;  for, 
penetrating  a  wood,  he  arrived  at  a  fountain, 
near  which  a  king  lay  dead,  who  was  armed 


222  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK   II. 

cap-a-pe.  Providing  himself  with  his  sword, 
Brandimart  turned  to  bay,  and  soon  made  his 
pursuers  repent  of  their  temerity.  These  slain 
or  put  to  flight,  he  clothed  himself  reluctantly 
in  the  other  arms  of  the  monarch,  leaving  him 
his  crown  and  regal  ornaments.  This  king  was 
no  other  than  Agrican,  so  preserved  by  a  visible 
miracle. 

An  after-combat  with  the  captain  of  these 
corsairs  put  the  knight  in  possession  of  a  steed, 
and  thus  re-equipt,  he  accompanied  Flordelis 
in  search  of  Orlando. 

This  paladin,  having  recovered  Angelica 
(as  has  been  related)  had  journeyed  as  far 
homeward  as  the  sea-coast  of  Syria  without 
impediment.  Here  he  found  a  vessel  ready  to 
carry  the  king  of  Damascus,  Norandino,  to  the 
island  of  Cyprus,  where  he  was  to  make  his 
first  essay  of  arms. 

This  was  to  be  made  for  love  of  a  lady 
whose  name  was  Lucina,  and  whose  father,  Ti- 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  223 

biano  was  king  of  Cyprus.  This  sovereign  had 
proclaimed  a  tournament,  of  which  the  princess 
was  to  be  the  prize,  and  thither  went  Noran- 
dino,  who  invited  Orlando  to  accompany  him. 
The  count,  disguising  his  name  and  country, 
and  feigning  himself  a  Circassian,  called  Roto- 
lante,  accepted  the  offer,  and,  together  with 
Angelica,  joined  Norandino,  who  was  accom- 
panied by  a  brilliant  train  of  adventurers.  He 
was  scarcely  on  ship-board  before  a  breeze 
sprang  up  from  the  land,  and  the  galley  was 
under  sail. 

For  the  tournament  which  was  preparing, 
many  Greeks  and  many  Pagans  had  assembled, 
among  whom  were  Basaldo  and  Morbeco, 
Turks,  and  Gostanzo  a  Greek.  This  Gostanzo 
was  the  son  of  Vataron,  emperor  of  Constan- 
tinople, and  had  brought  Gryphon  and  Aquilant 
in  his  company,  who,  together  with  Origilla, 
had  sought  the  hospitality  of  the  Grecian  court. 

In  the  tourney  the  combatants  are  ranged 


224  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

under  the  banner  of  this  Gostanzo  on  the 
one  side,  and  that  of  Norandino  on  the  other. 
Gryphon  and  Aquilant  serve  under  the  first, 
and  Orlando  under  the  second.  They  are, 
however,  disguised  from  each  other  by  borrowed 
devices,  and  Gryphon  only  suspects  a  knight 
who  bore  away  the  honors  of  the  first  day,  to 
be  Orlando,  from  his  superior  prowess,  and 
from  the  presence  of  Angelica,  whom  he  had 
observed  seated  amongst  the  ladies  that 
honoured  the  spectacle  with  their  presence. 

Imparting  his  suspicions  to  Gostanzo  after 
the  trumpets  had  blown  to  lodging,  the  wily 
Greek  determined  to  rid  himself  of  so  formid- 
able an  adversary.  He  accordingly  introduced 
himself  secretly  to  Orlando,  and  informed  him  of 
a  treason  which  (as  he  said)  the  king  of  Cyprus 
meditated  against  him,  at  the  instigation  of  Ga- 
nelon,  offering  him  at  the  same  tune  the  means 
of  escape.  This  was  a  pinnace  moored  in  a 
creek,  in  which  Orlando,  breathing  vengeance 


BOOK   II.  INN  AMOR  ATO.  225 

against  the  Maganzese,  embarked  with  Ange- 
lica, for  France. 

Disembarking  in  Provence,  they  pursued 
their  way  by  land,  and  arriving  hot,  and  weary, 
in  the  forest  of  Arden,  where  Rinaldo  had 
lately  drunk  of  the  fountain  of  Love,  chance 
directed  Angelica  to  the  waters  of  Disdain,  of 
which  she  drank. 

Issuing  thence,  the  count  and  damsel  en- 
countered a  stranger  knight.  This  was  no 
other  than  Rinaldo,  who  had  missed  Rodomont, 
then  engaged  in  combat  with  Ferrau ;  and  who, 
on  a  nearer  approach,  recognised  Angelica  with 
joy,  though  his  new  arms  and  ensigns  disguised 
Orlando,  who  accompanied  her.  The  conse- 
quences of  such  a  meeting  are  easily  foreseen. 
Angelica  views  Rinaldo  with  disgust,  and  a  new 
cause  of  strife  is  kindled  between  the  kinsmen. 

Terrified  at  the  combat  which  ensued,  An- 
gelica fled  amain  through  the  forest,  and  came 
out  upon  a  plain,  covered  with  tents.  This  was 
Q 


226  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

the  camp  of  Charlemagne,  who  led  the  army  of 
reserve,  destined  to  support  the  troops  which  had 
advanced  to  oppose  the  descent  of  Rodomont. 
Charles,  having  heard  the  damsel's  tale,  with 
difficulty  separates  the  two  cousins,  and  then 
consigns  Angelica,  as  the  cause  of  quarrel,  to 
the  care  of  Namus  duke  of  Bavaria,  promising 
she  shall  be  his  who  best  deserves  her,  in  the 
first  battle  with  the  Saracens. 

The  author  here  returns  to  Agramant,  who 
was  left  holding  a  tournament  at  the  foot  of 
Mount  Carena  in  Africa.  He  having  heard  of 
the  knight  who  was  slain,  and  that,  contrary  to 
his  orders,  (which  were  only  to  employ  courteous 
weapons,)  determined  to  take  vengeance  upon 
his  murderer,  and  supposing  Brunello  to  be 
the  criminal,  (since  Rogero  had  appeared  with 
his  arms  and  steed,)  ordered  him  to  be  hanged 
upon  the  spot. 

The  danger  of  him  who  was  about  to  suffer 
for  his  sake,  now  again  brought  "Rogero  from 


BOOK    II.  INNAMORATO. 

his  retreat.  He  routed  the  troops  appointed 
to  watch  over  the  execution,  rescued  Brunello, 
and  then,  presenting  himself  to  Agramant,  re- 
lated every  thing  as  it  had  passed. 

Agramant,  too  happy  to  find  the  object  of 
his  search  in  the  youth  who  had  performed 
such  wonders,  forgave  the  death  of  the 
slaughtered  cavalier,  knighted  Rogero,  and  car- 
ried him  off  to  Biserta,  where  his  vassal  kings 
and  barons  assembled  for  the  invasion  of  Chris- 
tendom. 

While  they  are  in  the  midst  of  their  revelry, 
a  messenger  reports  the  return  of  Rodomont's 
fleet,  whose  followers  brought  with  them,  as  a 
prisoner,  Dudon  the  Dane;  but  could  give  no 
account  of  Rodomont  their  leader. 

He  was  this  while  engaged  in  battle  with 
Ferrau,  with  whom  we  left  him  quarrelling 
about  Doralice ;  but  their  strife  was  soon  inter- 
rupted by  the  arrival  of  a  messenger,  who 
brought  news  that  Marsilius  was,  at  the  insti- 
o  2 


228  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

gation  of  Ganelon,  besieging  Mount  Albano. 
On  hearing  this,  the  duellists  make  peace,  and 
ride  together  to  join  the  besiegers. 

On  their  way  they  fall  in  with  Vivian  and 
Malagigi,  sons   of  duke  Aymon,  of  Mount  Al- 
bano,   who  are   proceeding   towards   Paris,  to 
demand  succour  of  Charlemagne;  and  Malagigi, 
retiring  with  Vivian   into  a  wood,  performs  a 
magic  rite,  by  which  he  ascertains  the  design  of 
the  approaching  warriors  Rodomont  and  Ferrau. 
To  frustrate  this,  he  conjures  up  a  bevy  of  fiends, 
armed  and  mounted  as  knights,   divides  them 
into  two  squadrons,  takes  the  command  of  one 
himself,  and  gives  that  of  the  other  to  Vivian. 
Thus     accompanied,     the     Christian    knights 
charge  their  adversaries.      But  the  Pagans  are 
too  strong  for  them,  take  Malagigi  and  Vivian 
prisoners,  and  send  their  demons  howling  back 
to  hell. 


BOOK  II.  1NNAMORATO.  229 

Here  the  author  exclaims, 

But  that  I  would  not  seem  with  folly  tainted, 
I  own  I  would  have  fain  beheld  the  attack ; 
So  great  is  my  desire  to  be  acquainted 
With  those  the  wizard  brought  his  cause  to  back : 
And  prove  with  my  own  eyes,  if  truly  painted, 
The  devil  be  so  very  foul  and  black ; 
More ;  that  his  pictures  differ  as  to  nail, 
And  horn,  and  hoof,  and  length  and  breadth  of 
tail. 

To  return  to  the  story,  Rodomont  and  Ferrau 
arrive  in  the  Spanish  camp  before  Mount  Albano, 
which  is  shortly  afterwards  attacked  by  the 
army  of  Charlemagne.  Divers  feats  of  prowess 
are  achieved  on  both  sides ;  but  the  most  in- 
teresting circumstance  is  a  single  combat 
between  Rodomont  and  Bradamant ;  which  the 
author  breaks  off  in  order  to  resume  the  story 
of  Br  andimart. 

This  knight,  having  obtained  a  steed  and 
2  3 


230  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

armour,  as  has  been  before  related,  proceeds 
with  Flordelis  towards  Europe. 

Thus  journeying,  the  pair  arrived  in  front  of 
a  magnificent  palace.  Here  a  damsel,  standing 
in  a  balcony,  motioned  to  them  to  take  another 
way ;  but  in  vain ;  for  Brandimart,  feigning  not 
to  understand  the  purport  of  her  signs,  rode 
boldly  up  to  the  gate.  He  is  now  opposed  by 
a  giant,  armed  with  a  serpent,  which  he  uses  as 
a  sword.  Him  the  knight  vanquishes  after 
a  long  battle,  in  which  he  is  opposed  by  a 
variety  of  enchantments ;  the  giant  and  serpent 
exchanging  forms,  as  one  or  the  other  is  slain 
He  next  kills  a  knight  who  kept  a  sepulchre 
in  the  inner  court,  and  opposed  his  further 
progress. 

He  and  Flordelis,  who  had  followed  her 
lover,  now  seek  the  gate  by  which  they  had 
entered,  but  all  appearance  of  it  was  lost. 

While  they  are  vainly  seeking  the  means  of 


BOOK  II.  1NNAMORATO.  231 

escape,  they  are  addressed  by  the  damsel  who 
had  at  first  waved  them  from  the  palace ;  and 
who  informed  Brandimart,  he  must  open  the 
sepulchre,  and  kiss  whatever  issued  from  it, 
if  he  expected  deliverance  from  his  prison. 
Brandimart,  little  terrified  by  the  injunction, 
promised  compliance ;  but  started  back,  and  put 
his  hand  to  his  sword,  on  the  appearance  of  a 
dragon.  Reproached  by  the  damsel  of  the 
castle  for  his  breach  of  promise,  he  manned  his 
spirits  for  the  encounter,  and  kissed  the  monster 
in  the  mouth.  A  sudden  cold  ran  through  his 
bones  at  coming  hi  contact  with  her :  but  what 
was  his  surprise,  on  seeing  the  dragon  trans  • 
formed  into  a  beautiful  damsel ! 

This  was  a  fay  so  transmuted,  who,  grateful 
for  her  deliverance,  offered  to  enchant  the 
horse  and  arms  of  Brandimart,  at  the  same  time 
entreating  him  to  conduct  the  lady  of  the 
castle,  who  was  named  Doristella,  into  Syria. 

This  promised,  the  gate  re-appeared,  the  fay 
2  4 


232  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  11. 

enchanted  the  steed  and  arms  of  Brandimart, 
and  he,  accompanied  by  the  two  ladies,  de- 
parted upon  the  quest  enjoined. 

They  had  ridden  some  time  in  silence,  when 
Doristella,  rallying  the  knight  for  his  taciturnity, 
proposed  to  beguile  the  way  with  the  relation 
of  her  adventures.  The  offer  was  gratefully 
received,  and  the  damsel  began  her  story  as 
follows  :  — 

"  My  father,  king  Doliston,"  said  she,  "  had 
two  daughters,  the  eldest  of  whom,  while  yet  a 
child,  was  carried  off  by  a  thief  from  the  shore 
of  Lissa.  Of  this  daughter,  who  was  the  pro- 
mised spouse  of  Theodore  the  son  of  a  neigh- 
bouring king,  nothing  was  ever  afterwards 
heard." 

"  And  what  was  the  name  of  the  mother  ?" 
exclaimed  Flordelis ;  but  Brandimart  having 
checked  her  for  her  interruption,  Doristella 
continued  her  narrative  in  her  own  way.  "  My 
intended  brother-in-law,"  said  the  damsel,  "  still 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  233 

kept  up  his  connection  with  my  family,  and  he 
and  I  soon  became  mutually  enamoured  of 
one  another.  The  young  man  at  length  un- 
bosomed himself  to  my  father,  and  demanded 
me  in  marriage;  but  my  father,  to  his  morti- 
fication, told  him,  that  he  had  that  very  day 
promised  me  to  the  wretch,  whom  you  slew  in 
the  palace. 

"  To  this  wretch,  named  Usbeck  of  Bursa, 
a  Turcoman  by  nation,  was  I  wedded ;  a  man 
valiant  in  the  field,  but,  as  to  the  rest,  little 
capable  of  winning  a  lady's  love.  This  man, 
who  was  jealous  in  proportion  to  the  grounds 
he  gave  me  for  disgust,  was  compelled  to  join 
an  expedition  against  Vatarone  the  emperor  of 
Greece.  Departing,  he  left  me  in  care  of  a 
slave  called  Gambone,  a  monster  of  deformity, 
whom  he  commanded  never  to  stir  from  my 
side.  He  had  not  been  long  absent,  when 
Theodore  arrived  at  Bursa,  and  having  cor- 
rupted  Gambone,  obtained  access  to  my  bed. 


234  THE   OKLANDO  BOOK  II. 

Our  intercourse  was  long  continued,  to  our 
mutual  satisfaction,  when  Usbeck  arrived  sud- 
denly one  night  at  Bursa,  and  demanded  instant 
entrance  into  his  house.  Our  courage  did  not 
desert  us  under  these  circumstances,  and  Theo- 
dore, slipping  down  stairs  in  the  dark,  escaped 
at  the  same  time  that  Usbeck  was  admitted. 
Our  danger,  however,  did  not  end  here;  for 
my  husband's  suspicions  had  been  awakened  by 
his  detention  at  the  door,  and  searching  every 
part  of  my  chamber,  he  found  a  mantle  which 
my  lover  had  left  behind  him  in  his  retreat. 

His  suspicions  being  now  confirmed,  he  burst 
into  a  transport  of  jealous  fury,  and  ordered  the 
slave  Gambone  for  instant  execution.  According 
to  the  custom  of  the  country,  his  other  slaves 
were  conducting  him  for  that  purpose,  through 
the  city  with  a  horn  sounding  before  him,  when 
Theodore  met  the  procession,  and  falling  upon 
the  criminal,  reproached  him,  amid  a  shower  of 
blows,  with  having  robbed  him  of  his  mantle. 


BOOK  II.  '    INNAMORATO.  235 

Tliis  trick  of  Theodore's,  who  was  unknown  to 
Usbeck,  saved  the  slave,  and  effaced  the  sus- 
picions which  he  entertained  of  my  fidelity. 
New  offences,  however,  on  my  part,  for  I  still 
continued  my  intercourse  with  Theodore,  re- 
newed his  jealousy,  and  he  at  last  shut  me  up 
in  the  enchanted  palace  whence  you  delivered 
me ;  though  it  was  not  then  kept  by  the  giant 
and  serpent,  which  were  the  afterwork  of  a 
necromancer  who  wrought  for  him." 

The  damsel  was  here  interrupted  by  an  out- 
cry, and  the  party  was  instantly  set  upon  by 
thieves.  These  were,  however,  beaten  off,  and 
their  leader  taken-  prisoner  by  Brandimart. 
He,  throwing  himself  at  the  feet  of  the  cavalier, 
entreated  him  not  to  carry  him  to  Lissa,  as 
he  dreaded  the  vengeance  of  Doliston,  the 
prince  of  that  country,  for  having  formerly 
carried  off  his  eldest  daughter,  whom  he  had 
sold  to  the  lord  of  the  Sylvan  Tower. 


236  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

Brandimart,  however,  who  has  secret  reasons 
(as  will  be  shortly  seen)  for  being  pleased  at 
this  account,  insists  upon  carrying  him  to  Lissa; 
and  arriving  before  Doliston's  capital,  finds  it 
besieged  by  Theodore,  in  revenge  for  the 
monarch's  having  refused  him  Doristella.  All 
now  is  cleared  up.  Flordelis  turns  out  to  be 
the  missing  daughter  of  Doliston,  who  had  been 
wooed  by  Brandimart  in  the  Sylvan  Tower; 
and  no  further  obstacle  existing  to  the  union  of 
Theodore  and  Doristella,  these  two,  as  well  as 
Brandimart  and  Flordelis,  are  united  in  mar- 
riage; Doliston  and  Theodore  having  previously 
made  peace. 

After  long  festivities  in  honour  of  these  double 
espousals,  Brandimart  and  Flordelis,  still  anxi- 
ous to  pursue  Orlando,  embark  for  France  with 
a  prosperous  wind.  This,  however,  changes ; 
increases  to  a  tempest ;  and  finally  drives  them 
on  the  shores  of  Carthage.  Here  Brandimart, 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO.  237 

less  anxious  for  his  own  safety  than  for  that  of 
Flordelis  and  his  companions,  conceals  his 
being  a  Christian,  and  announcing  himself  only 
as  son  of  Monodontes,  king  of  the  Distant 
Isles,  declares  that  it  was  his  purpose  to  visit 
Agramant  in  Biserta. 

He  accordingly  sets  off,  always  attended  by 
Flordelis,  for  that  capital;  where  he  is  mag- 
nificently received,  and  is  afterwards  carried  off 
by  Agramant,  together  with  Rogero,  on  his 
expedition  against  France. 

Agramant,  leaving  Dudon  a  prisoner  at  large 
in  Biserta,  which  was  to  be  governed  in  his 
absence  by  a  vice-roy,  embarks  upon  his  long 
meditated  enterprise,  disembarks  in  Spain, 
and  arrives,  by  forced  marches,  near  Mount 
Albano,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  which  the 
armies  of  Charlemagne  and  Marsilius  were  left 
engaged. 

Tlie  strife  was  still  continued  with  unabated 


2.S8        •  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

fury  ;  and  in  this  llinaldo  was  matched  with 
Ferrau,  king  Grandonio  with  tlie  marquis 
Oliviero,  Serpentine  with  Ogier  the  Dane,  and 
Marsilius  himself  against  Charlemagne.  . 

These  duels  were,  however,  of  little  account, 
compared  with  that  which  raged  between  Ro- 
domont  and  Bradamant.  Of  this  desperate 
contest  Orlando  was  a  witness ;  who  would  not 
-turn  his  arms  against  Rodomont  while  he  was 
engaged  with  so  formidable  an  adversary. 

While  Orlando  thus  played  the  part  of  a 
looker-on,  he  was  surprised  by  the  sound  of  an 
approaching  enemy,  and  casting  his  eyes  in 
that  direction,  saw  a  plump  of  spears,  with 
banners  and  pennons,  descending  (he  sides  of 
*  mountain.  He  immediately  stooped  from 
his  saddle  to  pick  up  a  weighty  lance  which  was 
lying  on  the  ground,  and  thus  prepared  himself 
for  the  encounter  of  what  proved  to  be  the  army 
of  Agramant.  <..-.  //  •;„  a  ._>  .,. .  / 


BOOK  IF.  INNAMORA'fO.  *      239 

This  sovereign   had  in   the   meantime   dis- 

9 

patched  one  of  his  vassal  kings,  named  Pina- 
doro,  towards  the  field  of  battle,  with  orders  to 
bring  him  one  or  more  prisoners,  who  might 
inform  him  of  the  state  of  the  Christian  army. 
Pinadoro  and  Orlando  meet  and  tilt  together: 

O  ' 

but  the  feudatory  king,  instead  of  accomplishing 
the  orders  of  his  sovereign,  remains  the  prisoner 
of  the  count  He  is,  however,  no  sooner  taken 
than  liberated  by  his  conqueror,  who  bids  him 
return  to  his  army  in  peace.  The  report  of  his 
ill  success  does  not  frighten  Agraniant  from  his 
purpose;  and  the  Moorish  army  descends  like 
a  torrent  into  the  plain. 

At  the  sight  of  these  new  enemies,  Charles  left 
Marsilius,  who  was  closely  pressed  by  him,  and 
ordered  Rinaldo  also  to  give  a  respite  to  Fer- 
rau,  and  lead  a  squadron  against  the  approaching 
troops,  whom  he  divined  to  be  what  they  really 
were*  Other  divisions  of  the  army  followed  in 


240  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  II. 

support  of  one   another,  and   a  bloody  battle 
ensued,  with  various  and  very  doubtful  success. 
Meantime  Orlando,  who  wished  such  measure 
of  misfortune  to  Charlemagne  as  should  make 
his  assistance  necessary,  and  ensure  him   the 
possession  of  Angelica  as  his  reward,  had  re- 
tired   from   the   medley   into   a  neighbouring 
wood,  and  was   praying  devoutly  for   the  dis- 
comfiture of  the  Christians.     By  accident,  Fer- 
rau,  fatigued  by  his  long  contest  with  Rinaldo, 
and  lately  as  hard  pressed  by  him  as  Marsilius 
was  by  Charlemagne,  had  sought  shelter  in  the 
same  retreat    Here,  stooping  to  drink  from  the 
banks  of  a  river,  he  dropt  his  helmet  in  the 
water,  and  was   engaged  in  a  vain  attempt  to 
recover  it,  when  he  was  discovered  by  Orlando. 
The  count,  however,  was  too  generous  to  attack 
an    enemy    under     such     disadvantages,    and 
weakened    as    Ferrau    evidently   was    by  the 
combat  he  had  previously  waged   against  Hi- 


BOOK  II.  INNAMORATO. 

naldo.  He  accordingly,  after  a  short  conference 
with  him,  in  which  he  learned  the  state  of 
things,  spurred  his  courser,  in  order  to  join  the 
army  of  Charlemagne. 

Here  he  performs  high  feats  of  valour,  and, 
after  the  slaughter  of  many  adversaries,  is  ad- 
vancing against  Rogero,  when  Atlantes,  who 
had  accompanied  the  youth,  (since  he  could  not 
restrain  him  from  following  his  destiny,)  diverts 
Orlando  from  his  object  by  the  vision  of  a  tri- 
umphant Pagan  squadron,  and  of  the  personal 
danger  of  Charlemagne.  Fascinated  by  this 
illusion,  he  follows  the  supposed  Saracens  into 
the  forest  of  Arden.  Here  the  vision  dis- 
appears ;  and  the  count,  wearied  with  the  fruit- 
less chace,  lights  from  Brigliadoro  near  a  fountain. 
Stooping  to  drink,  he  sees  a  crystal  palace  at 
the  bottom,  through  the  walls  of  which  he 
beholds  a  dance  of  ladies,  and,  unable  to  resist 
the  temptation  of  an  adventure,  plunges,  armed 
as  he  is,  into  the  fountain. 
n 


THE 


ORLANDO  INNAMORATO. 

BOOK  III. 


ARGUMENT. 

The  third  book  opens  with  the  introduction  of  a  new  cha- 
racter, Mandricardo,  son  of  Agncan,  the  Tartar  king,  who, 
pursuing  his  way  to  France  in  order  to  avenge  his  father's 
death,  is  made  the  prisoner  of  a  fairy.  He  frees  himself, 
acquires  the  arms  of  Hector,  and  is,  as  well  as  other  knights, 
involved  in  various  adventures,  till  the  story  returns  to  the 
invasion  of  France,  which  is  suddenly  interrupted  in  the 
middle. 


11    2 


BOOK  III. 

THE  author  opens  this  book  by  stating,  that 
he  is  called  away  to  the  north.  Here  a  mighty 
storm  was  gathering ;  and  France,  already  sore- 
bested,  was  suddenly  threatened  by  a  new  storm 
from  the  remote  quarter  of  Tartary. 

The  emperor  of  this  region,  named  Mandri- 
cardo,  having  wasted  it  by  his  violences,  was 
proceeding  in  a  course  of  imperious  tyranny, 
when  an  old  man  threw  himself  in  his  way,  and, 
reproaching  him  with  his  outrages,  bade  him 
desist  from  warring  upon  the  innocent  and 
defenceless,  and  seek  to  revenge  the  death  of 
his  father  upon  one  who  was  worthy  of  his 
R  S 


246  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  III. 

wrath ;  to  wit,  upon  Orlando,  the  murderer  of 
king  Agrican. 

Stung  to  the  heart   by   the   old  man's   re- 

• 

preaches,  Mandricardo,  determining  to  owe  his 
success  in  the  enterprise  on  which  he  resolved 
to  his  own  individual  valour,  leaves  his  king- 
dom incognito,  and  departs,  without  horse 
or  arms,  towards  the  west.  Travelling  thus 
alone  and  a-foot,  he  had  passed  the  confines 
of  Armenia,  when  he  spied  upon  a  day  a  pavi- 
lion, pitched  near  a  fountain ;  and  imagining 
that  he  might  there  find  what  he  was  deter- 
mined to  win  by  force,  entered  it,  with  the 
view  of  searching  for  the  horse  and  arms  of 
which  he  stood  in  need.  There  was  none  to 
defend  the  entrance,  and  he  was  already 
within  the  pavilion,  when  a  voice  was  heard 
to  murmur  from  the  waters,  that  he  was  a 
prisoner  to  the  power,  whose  possession  he  had 
violated. 


BOOK  III.  INXJLMORATO.  247 

Mandricardo,  however,  heard  not,  or  else 
disregarded  the  voice ;  and  pursuing  his  search, 
found  a  suit  of  armour,  disposed  upon  a  carpet, 
and  a  courser  fastened  to  a  neighbouring  pine. 

He  immediately  clothed  himspJf  in  the 
arms,  and  seized  upon  the  steed,  with  which  he 
was  departing,  when  a  fire  suddenly  *  sprang 
up  before  him,  that,  spreading  itself,  de- 
stroyed the  pine,  and  left  the  fountain  and 
pavilion  alone  untouched.  Mandricardo  is 
himself  embraced  by  the  flames,  which  destroy 
his  armour  and  clothing  even  to  his  shirt. 
To  escape  the  torture,  he  leaps  from  his  horse, 
every  thing  which  he  had  on  him  being  con- 
sumed, and  casts  himself  into  the  water.  Here, 
he  is  received  into  the  arms  of  a  naked  dam- 
sel of  incomparable  beauty,  who  kisses  him, 
and  bids  him  be  of  good  cheer,  informing 
him  that  he  is  taken  in  the  snare  of  a  fairy, 
but  that  if  he  has  heart  and  discretion,  he 
n  t 


24-8  THE    ORLANDO  HOOK  111. 

may  rescue  not  only  himself,  but  so  many  dam- 
sels and  cavaliers,  that  he  shall  reap  immortal 
glory  from  the  achievement. 

She  pursued  her  story,  informing  him,  that 
the  fountain  was  the  work  of  a  fairy,  who  had 
imprisoned  there  king  Gradasso  of  Sericane, 
Gryphon  and  Aquilant,  and  many  other  knights 
and  ladies.  "  Beyond  the  hill,"  said  she, 
"  which  you  see  before  you,  is  situated  a  castle, 
where  this  fairy  has  laid  up  the  arms  of  Hector, 
with  the  exception  of  his  sword.  On  his  being 
slain  treacherously  by  Achilles,  a  queen,  named 
Penthesilea,  possessed  herself  of  this.  At  her 
death  it  passed  to  Almontes,  and  from  him  was 
taken  by  Orlando.  This  weapon  was  called 
Durindana.  The  remainder  of  his  arms  was 
saved  and  carried  off  by  ^Eneas,  from  whom  they 
were  received  by  her,  in  recompence  of  a  mar- 
vellous service  which  she  had  bestowed  upon 
him.  If  you  have  the  courage  to  attempt  the 


BOOK  III.  INNAMORATO.  249 

acquisition  of  these  arms,  secured  in  yonder 
castle  by  enchantment,  I  will  be  your  guide." 

Mandricardo  was  enraptured  at  the  pro- 
posal, and  only  hesitated  at  the  idea  of  exposing 
himself  naked.  This  difficulty  was,  however, 
got  over  by  the  lady,  who,  letting  down  her 
hair,  which  was  bound  about  her  head  in 
braids,  furnished  a  complete  covering  for  her- 
self and  the  cavalier.  Being  sheltered  from 
sight  by  this,  they  issued,  linked  arm  in  arm, 
from  the  water,  and  took  their  way  together  to 
the  pavilion. 

Entering  this,  which,  as  was  said,  remained 
untouched  by  the  fire,  they  reposed  for  some 
time  upon  flowers.  At  length  the  damsel  gave 
the  signal  for  departure,  and  having  clothed 
Mandricardo  in  armour,  conducted  him  where 
a  courser  was  in  waiting.  Upon  this  he  leapt, 
all  armed  as  he  was;  and  the  lady  having 
mounted  on  a  palfrey,  both  set  forward  on  their 
enterprise. 


250  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  III. 

They  had  ridden  about  a  mile,  when  the 
damsel,  explaining  the  dangers  of  the  quest, 
informed  Mandricardo  that  he  would  have  to 
combat  with  Gradasso,  the  conqueror  of 
Gryphon,  who  had  at  first  maintained  the  field 
against  all  comers. 

Thus  speaking,  they  arrived  at  the  castle, 
which  was  of  alabaster,  overlaid  with  gold. 
Before  this,  on  a  lawn,  enclosed  with  a  barrier 
of  live  myrtles,  sat  an  armed  knight  on  horse- 
back, and  who  was  no  other  than  Gradasso. 
Mandricardo,  upon  seeing  him,  dropt  his  vizor, 
and  laid  his  lance  in  the  rest.  The  champion  of 
the  castle  was  as  ready,  and  each  spurred 
towards  his  opponent.  They  splintered  their 
spears  with  equal  force,  and  again  returning 
to  the  charge,  encountered  with  their  swords. 
This  contest  was  long  and  doubtful,  when 
Mandricardo,  determining  to  bring  it  to  an 
issue,  threw  his  arms  about  Gradasso,  and  the 
two  horsemen,  grappling  together,  tumbled  to 


BOOK  III.  1NNAMORATO.  251 

the  ground.  In  the  struggle,  however,  Man- 
dricardo  fell  uppermost,  and  preserving  his 
advantage,  made  Gradasso  prisoner.  The 
damsel  now  interfered,  proclaiming  the  victory 
of  the  new  comer,  and  consoling  the  vanquished 
as  she  could,  for  his  discomfiture. 

In  the  meantime,  the  sun  had  set  upon  the 
strife,  and  it  was  too  late  for  Mandricardo  to 
enter  the  enchanted  castle,  which  the  damsel 
informed  him  would  be  only  accessible  after 
sunrise.  She  invites  him,  therefore,  to  lie  down 
amongst  the  flowers  with  which  the  meadow  is 
enamelled,  proffering  to  be  his  guard ;  but 
informs  him,  that  there  is  harbourage  to  be 
obtained  at  a  neighbouring  castle,  though  it  can 
only  be  purchased  by  exposure  to  notable  peril. 
This,  she  says,  is  kept  by  a  kind  and  courteous 
lady,  who  is  often  disturbed,  in  the  exercise  of 
her  hospitality,  by  a  giant  named  Malapresa, 
whom  he  would  do  well  to  avoid,  as  he  has 
already  sufficient  toil  and  danger  on  his  hands. 


252  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  III. 

Mandricardo  rejects  this  kind  intimation, 
and  insists  upon  being  guided  to  the  lady's 
lodging. 

He  and  the  damsel  accordingly  set  off  in  that 
direction,  and  soon  arrive  at  the  palace,  which 
is  illuminated  with  a  thousand  lights.  It  ap- 
peared as  if  a  watch  was  kept  for  friends  or 
foes ;  and  a  dwarf  was  posted  in  a  gallery  over 
the  entrance,  whose  duty  it  was  to  give  notice 
of  all  comers.  On  the  winding  of  his  horn,  if 
there  were  cause  for  suspicion,  the  house- 
hold, armed  with  missile  weapons,  assembled  in 
the  balconies :  but  if  it  were  an  errant  knight, 
in  search  of  hospitality,  damsels  came  forth  to 
salute  him,  and  conduct  him  into  the  castle. 

In  this  manner  was  Mandricardo  received, 
who  was  afterwards  magnificently  entertained 
by  the  lady  of  the  mansion.  Their  festivity  is, 
however,  interrupted  by  the  dwarf's  horn,  which 
sounds  an  alarum.  The  signal  is  hardly  given, 
before  Malapresa  has  forced  the  gate,  and 


BOOK  III.  INNAMORATO.  253 

appears  in  the  middle  of  the  guests,  armed  with 
an  enormous  mace.  A  furious  combat  now  en- 
sues between  him  and  the  Tartar  king,  in  which 
the  giant  is  slain,  and  cast  into  the  castle  ditch. 
This  event  occasions  only  a  short  interruption 
of  the  festivity,  which  is  prolonged  late  into  the 
night.  The  revellers  at  length  retire;  and 
Mandricardo  amongst  the  rest,  who  is  as  mag- 
nificently lodged,  as  he  had  been  feasted,  by  the 
lady  of  the  castle. 

At  sun-rise  he  starts  from  his  couch,  descends 
into  the  castle-garden,  washes  himself  at  a 
fountain ;  then  puts  on  his  armour,  and,  guided 
by  his  former  conductress,  proceeds  upon  his 
enterprise. 

On  arriving  at  the  eastern  entrance  of  the ' 
outer  wall  of  the  enchanted  castle,  which  was 
not  more  magnificent  than  extensive,  and  which 
entrance  Mandricardo  found  undefended,  he 
was  informed,  that  he  must  plight  an  oath  upon 
the  threshold,  to  touch  a  shield  which  was  sus- 


254-  THE    ORLANDO  HOOK  III. 

pended.  there  from  a  pilaster  of  gold.  The  bear- 
ing of  this  was  a  white  eagle  on  an  azure  field, 
in  memory  of  the  bird  of  Jove,  who  bore  away 
Ganymede,  the  flower  of  the  Phrygian  race. 
Beneath  was  engraved  the  following  legend : 

Let  none,  Mth  hand  profane,  my  buckler  wrong, 
Unless  he  be  himself  as  Hector  strong. 

The  damsel  immediately,  alighting  from  her 
palfrey,  inclined  herself  to  the  ground;  the 
Tartar  king  bent  himself  with  equal  reverence, 
and  afterwards  passed  the  threshold  without 
an  obstacle. 

Advancing  through  the  eastern  entrance  of 
the  enclosure  towards  the  shield,  Mandricardo 
touched  it  with  his  sword.  An  earthquake 
immediately  shook  the  place,  and  the  way  by 
which  he  had  entered  closed.  Another,  and 
an  opposite  gate,  however,  opened,  and  dis- 
played a  field,  bristling  with  stalks  and  grain  of 
gold.  The  damsel  upon  this  told  him,  that  he 


BOOK.  III.  INNAMORATO.  255 

who  had  entered  had  no  means  of  departure 
but  by  cutting  down  the  harvest  which  was 
before  him,  and  in  uprooting  a  tree  which 
grew  in  the  middle  of  the  field.  The  cham- 
pion, without  answering,  prepared  himself,  for 
his  work,  and  immediately  began  to  mow  the 
harvest  with  his  sword.  A  strange  effect  fol- 
lowed; and  every  grain  was  instantly  trans- 
formed into  some  ravenous  animal,  —  lion, 
panther,  or  unicorn,  who  all  flew  in  fury  at  the 
reaper. 

Mandricardo,  thus  assailed,  snatched  up  a 
stone,  without  knowing  what  virtue  resided  in 
it,  and  cast  it  amongst  the  herd.  This  stone 
was  party-coloured,  green,  vermilion,  -white, 
azure  and  gold.  A  strange  wonder  followed : 
for  it  no  sooner  lighted  amongst  the  beasts, 
than  they  turned  their  rage  one  against  the 
other,  and  perished  by  mutual  wounds.  Man- 
dricardo did  not  stop  to  marvel  at  the  mi- 
racle, but  proceeded  to  fulfil  his  task,  and 


256  THE   ORLANDO  BOOK  III. 

uproot  the  tree.  This,  which  was  lofty  and 
full  of  leaves,  he  embraced  by  the  trunk,  mak- 
ing vigorous  efforts  to  tear  it  up  by  the  roots. 
At  each  of  these  fell  a  shower  of  leaves,  which 
were  instantly  changed  into  birds  of  prey,  who 
attacked  the  knight,  as  the  beasts  had  done 
before.  Undismayed,  however,  by  this  new 
annoyance,  he  continued  to  tug  at  the  trunk  till 
it  yielded  to  his  efforts.  A  burst  of  wind  and 
thunder  followed,  and  the  hawks  and  vultures 
were  dispersed. 

These,  however,  only  gave  place  to  a  new 
foe ;  for  from  the  hole  made  by  tearing  up  the 
tree,  issued  a  furious  serpent  with  many  tails, 
who  darted  at  Mandricardo,  wound  herself 
about  his  limbs,  and  was  about  to  devour  him* 
Fortune,  however,  again  stood  his  friend;  for, 
writhing  under  the  folds  of  the  monster,  and 
struggling  to  free  himself,  he  fell  backwards 
into  the  hole,  and  his  enemy  was  crushed 
beneath  his  weight* 


BOOK.  III.  l^NAMORATOrf  257-    • 

Mamlricardo,  when  he  had  somewhat  re- 
covered from  the  shock,  and  assured  himself 
of  the  destruction  of  the  dragon,  began  to  con- 
template the  place  into  which  he  had  fallen,  and 
saw  that  he  was  in  a  vault,  encrusted  with 
costly  metals,  and  illuminated  by  a  live  coal. 
In  the  middle  was  a  sort  of  ivory  bier,  and  upon 
this  was  extended,  what  appeared  to  be  a  knight 
in  armour,  but  what  was  in  truth,  an  empty 
trophy,  composed  of  the  rich  and  precious 
arms,  once  Hector's,  and  to  which  nothing 
was  wanting  but  the  sword.  While  Man- 
dricardo  stood  contemplating  the  prize,  a  door 
opened  behind  him,  and  a  bevy  of  fair  damsels 
entered  dancing,  who  bore  him  away  to  the 

•* 

place  where  the  shield  was  suspended,  and 
where  he  found  the  fairy  of  the  castle  seated 
in  state.  By  her  he  was  invested  with  the 
arms  which  he  had  won,  he  first  swearing,  at 
her  injunction,  to  wear  no  other  blade  but  the 
sword  Durindana,  which  he  was  to  ravish  from 


258  T1IE   ORLANDO  BOOK  III. 

Orlando,  and  thus  complete   the  conquest  of 
Hector's  arms. 

The  adventure  was  now  accomplished,  and 
the  champion  departed  in  order  to  achieve  die 
great  purpose,  for  which  he  left  his  realm  of 
Tartary.  Many  illustrious  knights  issued  at 
the  same  tune  from  the  dungeons  of  the  fairy, 
who  had  remained  prisoners  on  a  failure  of 
their  enterprise,  and  who  had  been  now  liber- 
ated by  his  success.  Amongst  these  were 
Gradasso,  Isolier,  Sacripant,  Gryphon,  and 
Aquilant,  with  many  others. 

Mandricardo  himself  pursued  his  journey,  in 
company  with  GradasSo.     Of  the  others,  Gry- 
phon and  Aquilant,  who  knew  the  language  of 
the  Saracens,  travelled  through  strange  coun- 
tries ;  and  thus  journeying  along  the  sea-shore, 
fell  in  with  two  damsels,  the  one  clothed  in  white, 
and  the  other  in  black,  and  attended  by  two 
dwarfs.     As  the  colour  of  their  respective  ladies, 
such  was  that  of  their  dwarfs,  and  of  the  palfreys 


BOOK  III.  INNAMORATO.  259 

which  they  rode :  saving  in  this,  they  were  so 
alike,  as  to  be  undistinguishablc  one  from  the 
other ;  and  were  equals  in  beauty  and  grace. 

"  Sister,"  said  one  of  these,  addressing  her- 
self to  her  companion,  "  there  is  no  defence 
against  destiny  ;  yet  wisdom  may  in  some  sort, 
controul  fortune :  then  let  us  detain  these, 
at  least  awhile,  from  the  fate  which  is  reserved 
for  them  in  France." — Thus  spoke  the  sable 
to  the  white  dasmel,  unheard  of  the  two  knights 
who  were  approaching,  and  who  saluted  them 
with  all  the  courtesy  due  to  their  bearing  and 
appearance. 

One  of  the  ladies  demanded  a  boon  of  the 
two  cavaliers ;  who  both  as  instantly  vowed  to 
perform  whatever  was  enjoined  them.  This 
was  to  take  the  field  against  a  miscreant,  named 
Orrilo,  engendered  of  a  goblin  and  fairy,  who 
inhabited  a  tower  upon  the  Nile,  where  he 
kept  (says  the  story)  a  kind  of  dragon,  termed 
a  crocodile,  and  fed  it  with  human  flesh. .  The 
P  2 


260  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  III. 

damsels  go  on  to  state,  that  hitherto  no  one 
has  been  able  to  prevail  against  the  wretch, 
who,  in  dying,  renews  himself  like  the  phoenix. 
This  account  does  not  discourage  the  brothers, 
who  again  proffer  their  assistance. 

Aquilant  accordingly  encounters  Orrilo,  where 
he  keeps  the  way  against  travellers;  and  he 
being  sore  pressed,  flies  to  the  tower,  and  turns 
out  his  crocodile. 

Gryphon  now  deems  himself  justified  in 
assisting  his  brother;  and  the  crocodile  is  at 
length  slain.  Orrilo,  however,  though  often 
worsted,  appears  to  be  irresistible :  for  though 
he  is  frequently  unhorsed,  and  is  actually  se- 
vered into  two  parts  by  one  of  the  brothers, 
he  constantly  re-unites  himself,  and  renews  the 
contest.  The  day  is  now  closing,  and  the  two 
.brothers  are  in  despair. 

\Vhile  things  are  in  this  state,  a  new  per- 
former appears  upon  the  theatre.  This  is 
.a  knight,  who  dragged  a  giant  captive:  but 


BOOK  III.  INNAMORATO.  261 

here  the  author  leaves  Gryphon  and  Aquilant, 
as  well  as  the  knight  and  his  prisoner,  and 
resumes  the  story  of  Mandricardo  and  Gra- 
dasso,  who  were  left  journeying  together  towards 
France. 

This  pair,  after  traversing  various  regions, 
arrive  upon  the  sea-coast,  where  they  find  a 
lady  chained  and  exposed  upon  the  beach. 
On  their  interrogating  her,  she  tells  them, 
that  she  awaits  the  approach  of  a  furious 
Ork,  who  will  devour  her  alive ;  and  entreats 
them,  as  an  act  of  compassion,  rather  to  put 
her  to  an  immediate  death,  than  to  leave  her 
exposed  to  so  horrible  a  fate.  The  only  favour 
that  she  requests  of  them,  besides  this  dreadful 
grace,  is,  (should  they  fall  in  with  him,)  to 
inform  Norandino,  king  of  Damascus,  of  her 
death,  and  dying  sentiments  of  affection  to  him. 

The  knights,  however,  insist  on    defending 
her,   and   a   dreadful   conflict   ensues  between 
them  and  the  Ork,  who  is  represented  as  some- 
s  3 


262  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  III. 

thing  indistinct,  monstrous  and  gigantic.  Gra- 
dasso  is  soon  overpowered,  and  Mandricardo, 
who,  in  conformity  to  his  vow,  was  unprovided 
with  a  sword,  is  obliged  to  fly  before  the  pest. 

He,  however,  finds  his  deliverance  in  flight ; 
for,  speeding  his  steps  along  the  cliffs,  he  ar- 
rives at  a  frightful  chasm,  at  which  he  springs 
in  utter  desperation.  The  Ork  following  him, 
is  unable  to  clear  it,  and  tumbles  down  the 
abyss. 

Mandricardo  quit  of  his  foe,  descends  to  the 
shore,  in  search  of  Gradasso  and  Lucina,  (for 
so  was  named  the  lady  chained  to  the  rock,) 
and  proceeds  in  company  with  them  along  the 
beach.  From  this  they  behold  a  ship  in  the 
distance,  which  bears  the  flag  of  Tibiano,  king 
of  Cyprus  and  Rhodes,  the  father  of  Lucina,  and 
who  was  then  seeking  his  daughter.  Lucina, 
overjoyed  at  the  sight,  makes  a  signal  of  her  vest, 
and  waves  the  galley  to  the  land.  On  board  this 
she  embarks,  together  with  her  defenders ;  but 


BOOK  III.  INNAMORATO.  263 

the  vessel  has  scarcely  shown  her  stern  to  the 
shore,  when  the  Ork  re-appears,  with  a  mon- 
strous fragment  of  a  mountain  on  his  shoulders : 
This  he  heaves  into  the  sea,  which  flashes  above 
her  topmast  head,  and  all  cower  at  the  bottom 
of  the  vessel  for  refuge ;  but  the  mass  misses 
the  mark  at  which  it  was  hurled,  and  a  loud 
land-wind  rising  at  the  moment,  the  vessel  is 
blown  off  to  sea. 

One  danger  is  only  substituted  for  another; 
the  storm  increases,  and  all  is  darkness  and 
dismay.  In  this  situation,  the  night  closes 
in,  during  which  they  drift  at  the  mercy  of  the 
winds.  The  succeeding  day  dawns  upon  them 
under  better  auspices;  and  they  find  them- 
selves, in  the  morning,  upon  the  shore  of  Acqua- 
morta,  where  a  mountain  separates  France  and 
Spain. 

Here  they  land  in  the  neighbourhood  of  a 
cave,  called  Runa,  without  having  any  know- 
ledge of  the  coast  upon  which  they  are  cast. 
s  4 


264  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  III. 

Leaving  there  Tibiano  and  Lucina,  Graclasso 
and  Mandricardo  proceed,  armed  and  mounted, 
in  search  of  intelligence. 

They  have  not  proceeded  far,  before  they 
hear  the  noise  of  battle,  and  pushing  their 
horses  towards  the  sound,  find  Agramant  en- 
gaged with  Charlemagne. 

The  main  story  is  thus  brought  back  to  the 
point  where  the  Christian  and  paynim  armies 
were  left,  and  where  the  tide  of  conquest  was 
fluctuating  between  the  hostile  forces.  Retiring 
from  the  medley,  Ferrau  had  withdrawn  into 
a  neighbouring  wood,  and  was  fishing  for  his 
helmet,  in  a  stream  in  which  he  had  lost  it  as 
he  stooped  to  drink.  At  this  period  fortune 
declares  decisively  in  favour  of  the  infidels ; 
and,  while  Rogero  and  Rinaldo  are  engaged 
in  a  single  combat  on  foot,  Charlemagne's 
forces  give  way  at  all  points,  in  irreparable 
confusion. 

The   duel    of  the   two   champions  is  inter- 


BOOK  III.  1NNAMORATO.  26*5 

ruptcd  by  the  crowd  of  fugitives  and  pursuers ; 
and  Rinaldo,  now  seeing  Bayardo  loose  in  the 
field,  attempts  to  get  possession  of  him.  The 
horse,  however,  will  not  be  taken;  and  Rinaldo, 
following  him  into  a  thick  wood,  is  left  there  by 
the  author,  who  returns  to  Rogero. 

Rogero  was  also  a-foot,  and  grieving  for  the 
loss  of  his  own  horse,  Frontino,  whom  he  how- 
ever recovered  in  the  rout.  He  now  finds 
Bradamant  and  Rodomont  engaged  in  combat. 
Though  he  knew  not  who  they  were,  he  could 
distinguish  that  one  was  a  paynim,  and  the 
other  a  Christian ;  and,  moved  by  the  spirit  of 
courtesy,  approached  them,  and  exclaimed, 
'.*  Let  him  of  the  two,  who  worships  Christ, 
pause,  and  hear  what  I  have  to  say.  The 
army  of  Charles  is  routed,  and  in  flight;  so 
that  if  he  wishes  to  follow  his  leader,  he 
has  no  tune  for  delay."  Bradamant,  who  is 
thunderstruck  with  the  tidings,  desires  imme- 
diately to  leave  the  field;  but  this  is  refused  by 


266  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  III. 

her  antagonist :  and  Itogcro,  indignant  at  his 
discourtesy,  insists  upon  her  departure,  while 
he  takes  up  the  quarrel  with  llodomont. 

This,  long  and  obstinately  maintained  on 
both  sides,  is  interrupted  by  the  return  of 
Bradamant,  who,  not  being  able  to  overtake 
the  fugitives,  and  being  divided  in  her  feelings, 
as  to  what  she  owed  on  the  one  side  to  her 
emperor,  and  on  the  other  to  the  stranger  who 
had  so  generously  taken  her  part,  yields  at  last 
to  what  was  the  stronger  impulse,  and  comes 
back  to  his  assistance. 

She  arrives,  however,  when  he  was  least  in  x 
need  of  it ;  and  when  he  had  smote  his  enemy 
such  a  blow,  as  obliged  him  to  drop  both  his 
sword  and  bridle.  Rogero,  however,  disdaining 
to  profit  by  his  defenceless  situation,  sate  apart 
upon  his  horse,  whilst  that  of  Rodomont  bore 
his  rider,  stunned  and  stupefied,  about  the  field. 
Rogero  was  at  this  juncture  approached 
by'  Bradamant;  who  conceived  a  yet  higher 


BOOK  III.  INNAMORATO.  267 

notion  of  his  valour,  on  beholding  such  an 
instance  of  forbearance.  She  addressed  him, 
by  excusing  herself  for  leaving  him  exposed  to 
an  enemy  from  his  interference  in  her  cause, 
pleading  her  attachment  to  her  sovereign  as 
the  motive ;  and  was  engaged  in  conference  with 
him,  when  Rodomont  recovered  from  his  con- 
fusion. His  bearing  was  however  changed, 
and  he  disclaimed  all  thoughts  of  further  con- 
test with  one  tf  who  he  said,  had  already  van- 
quished him  by  his  courtesy."  So  saying,  he 
quitted  his  antagonist,  picked  up  his  sword,  and 
spurred  out  of  sight. 

Bradamant  was  now  again  desirous  of  retir- 
ing from  the  field,  and  Rogero  insisted  on  ac- 
companying her,  though  yet  unconscious  of  her 
sex. 

As  they  pursued  their  way,  she  enquired 
the  name  and  quality  of  her  new  associate ; 
and  Rogero  informed  her  of  his  nation  and 
family.  Beginning  from  the  destruction  of 


2G8  THE    OHLANDO  BOOK  III. 

Troy,  he  told  her  that  Astyanax,  who  was  pre- 
served by  a  stratagem   of  the   Greeks,  having 
established  the  kingdom  of  Messina,  in  Sicily, 
perished  by  the  treachery  of  a  priest,  named 
(Egystus.      The  widow  of  this  prince,  being 
then  big  with  child,  flying  from  her  enemies, 
escaped  to  Rheggio.     Here  she  brought  .forth 
a  son,  who  was  christened  Polydore.      From 
this  Polydore  descended  Polydantes,  and  from, 
him  twin  branches,   who   gave  origin    to  two 
other  families  of  renown.     From  one  of  these 
sprang   the   royal  race  of  Pepin  and  Charle-i 
magne;   and    from   the   other,  two   illustrious, 
houses,    one   of  which  took  root  at  Rheggio, 
(*  once  called  Risa')  and  the  other  at  Ancona. 
"  From  that  of  Rheggio  am  I  derived,"  continu-. 
ed  he ;  "  and  am  son  of  Rogero,  the  son  of  Ago- 
lant  and  Gallicella..     She  "flying  when  big  with 
me,   from   a    horrible   persecution   which   she. 
endured  during  the  absence  of  her  husband,, 
then,  engaged  ,in  war,  brought  me  forth  in  a. 


BOOK  III.  INNAMORATO.  269 

foreign  land,  and  died  in  giving  me  life.  It 
was  here  that  a  magician  took  charge  of  me, 
who  trained  me  to  feats  of  arms  amidst  the 
dangers  of  the  desert  and  of  the  chace." 

Having  thus  ended  his  tale,  Rogero  entreated 
a  similar  return  of  courtesy  from  his  compa- 
nion ;  who  replied,  without  disguise,  that  she 
was  of  the  race  of  Clermont,  and  sister  to 
Rinaldo,  the  fame  of  whom  was  perhaps  known 
to  him.  Rogero,  much  moved  by  this  intel- 
ligence, entreats  her  to  take  off  her  helmet; 
and,  at  the  discovery  of  her  face,  remains 
transported  with  pleasure. 

Whilst  he  is  contemplating  this  with  rap- 
ture, an  unexpected  danger  hangs  over  the 
future  lovers.  A  party  which  was  placed  in  a 
wood,  in  order  to  intercept  the  retreating  Chris- 
tians, breaks  from  its  ambush  upon  the  pair; 
and  Bradamant,  who  was  uncasqued,  is  wounded 
in  the  head.  .  Rogero  is  in  fury  at  this  attack ; 
and  Bradamant,  replacing  her  helmet,  joins  him 


270  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  III. 

in  taking  speedy  vengeance  on  their  enemies. 
Of  these  they  clear  the  field,  but  separate  in 
the  pursuit;  and  the  author  first  resumes  the 
story  of  Rogero. 

Quitting  the  chace,  and  wandering  by  hill 
and  vale,  in  search  of  her  whom  he  had  no 
sooner  found  than  lost,  Rogero  now  falls  in 
with  two  knights,  whom  he  joins,  and  who 
promise  to  assist  him  in  the  search  of  his 
companion,  whose  arms  he  describes,  con- 
cealing, from  &  vague  feeling  of  jealousy,  her 
quality  and  sex. 

It  was  evening  when  they  joined  company, 
and  having  journeyed  together  through  the 
night,  the  morning  was  beginning  to  break, 
when  one  of  the  strangers,  fixing  his  eyes  upon 
Rogero's  shield,  demanded  of  him  by  what 
right  he  bore  the  device  pourtrayed  upon  it* 
Rogero,  in  return  interrogated  the  enquirer 
as  to  his  pretensions  to  the  bearing  of  Hec- 
tor, who  proclaimed  himself  to  be  Mandri- 


HOOK  III.  INNAMOIIATO.  271 

cardo,  declared  how  he  had  won  it,  and  pro- 
posed that  arms  should  decide  which  of  the 
two  was  most  worthy  to  bear  the  symbol  of 
the  Trojan  knight. 

Rogero  felt  no  other  objection  to  this  pro- 
posal, than  die  scruple  which  rose  out  of  the 
observation,  that  his  antagonist  was  without  a 
sword.  Mandricardo,  however,  insisted  that 
this  need  be  no  impediment;  and  then  in- 
formed him  of  the  vow  which  he  had  taken, 
never  to  wear  a  sword  till  he  had  completed 
the  acquisition  of  Hector's  arms  by  the  conquest 
of  Durindana. 

This  was  no  sooner  said,  than  a  new  anta- 
gonist started  up  in  Gradasso,  in  whom  the 
reader  will  have  recognised  the  companion  of 
Mandricardo.  Gradasso  now  vindicates  his 
prior  right  to  the  quest  of  Durindana,  to  obtain 
which  he  had  embarked  (as  was  related  in  the 
beginning)  in  that  fearful  war  upon  France. 
A  quarrel  is  thus  kindled  between  the  kings  of 


272  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  III. 

Tartary  and  Sericane.  Mondricardo  uproots 
a  young  elm-tree,  to  supply  the  place  of  a, 
sword;  and  Gradasso,  disdaining  to  combat 
•with  unequal  weapons,  arms  himself  with  a 
pine.  Being  thus  furnished  for  offence,  they 
encounter .  one  another  with  fury,  while  Rogero 
laughs  and  looks  upon  the  strife. 

He,  nevertheless,  several  times  attempts  to  se- 
parate the  combatants,  but  always  without  suc- 
cess. While  the  conflict  is  thus  raging,  a 
knight  arrives  upon  the  ground,  accompanied 
by  a  damsel,  to  whom  Rogero  relates  the  cause 
and  progress  of  the  strife.  This  turns  out  to  be 
Brandimart,"  accompanied  by  Flordelis.  He 
also  interposes  his  mediation,  and  succeeds 
better  in  bringing  the  two  champions  to  accord. 
This  he  effects,  by  informing  them  that  he  can 
conduct  them  to  the  presence  of  Orlando,  the 
master  of  Durindana. 

"  If,"  said  he,  "  you  can  heal  him  of  a  strange 
enchantment,  it  is  from  him  that  you  may 


BOOK  III.  INNAMORATO.  273 

claim  the  sword ;  nor  is  he  one  who  will  refuse 
you  a  fair  field  for  obtaining  it.  Two  leagues 
from  hence,"  continued  Brandimart,  "  is  a 
water,  called  the  River  of  Laughter,  but  which 
would  be  better  entitled  the  Stream  of  Tears. 
Here  Orlando  is  enchanted.  An  African  ma- 
gician made  this  known  to  me,  and  I  had 
already  disposed  myself  to  free  him,  or  perish 
by  his  side,  but  being  insufficient  by  myself 
for  such  an  enterprise,  Heaven  has  willed  that 
I  should  light  upon  you  to  assist  me  in  the 
attempt." 

Gradasso  and  Mandricardo  instantly  make 
truce,  in  order  to  accompany  Brandimart  in  his 
quest,  nor  will  Rogero  be  left  behind. 

This  resolution,  however,  gave  rise  to  a 
serious  difficulty ;  for  the  number  to  be  em- 
ployed in  the  adventure  was  to  be  unequal,  as 
Brandimart  was  instructed ;  and  one  must 
therefore  necessarily  be  rejected.  Who  should 
lie  rejected,  it  was  now  determined  to  decide 
T 


274  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  III. 

by  lot ;  and  chance  pronounced  against  Man- 
dricardo,  who  departed  with  reluctance  from 
the  field,  and  wandering  long,  arrived  at  last 
in  Agramant's  camp,  who  had  sate  down  before 
Paris. 

The  story  of  Orlando  is  now  resumed,  where 
it  was  left  by  the  author  at  the  conclusion  of 
the  second  book.  The  count  having  plunged 
into  the  fountain,  termed  the  River  of  Laughter, 
is  so  delighted  with  the  company  of  Naiads, 
and  with  the  pleasures  which  he  finds  beneath 
the  waters,  that  he  remains  there  a  willing 
prisoner. 

About  this  water  extended  an  enchanted 
wood,  thick  with  evergreen  trees;  and  here 
arrived  Rogero,  Gradasso,  Brandimart,  and 
Flordelis,  determined  to  attempt  the  deliver- 
ance of  Orlando. 

This  forest  seemed  impenetrable;  but  by 
the  advice  of  Flordelis,  the  knights  descended 
from  their  horses,  and  determined  to  cut  them- 


BOOK  III.  1NNAMOKATO.  275 

selves  a  passage.  Rogero,  in  pursuance  of 
this  resolution,  hews  down  a  laurel  with  his 
sword.  The  tree  is  no  sooner  overthrown, 
than  a  beautiful  damsel  starts  from  its  trunk, 
and  claims  the  compassion  of  the  knight. 
She  informs  him,  that  the  trees  which  he  be- 
holds, as  well  as  that  which  he  has  felled,  con- 
tain sister  nymphs,  the  victims  of  enchantment  ; 
the  nature  of  which  is  such,  that  they  remain 
transformed  till  liberated,  as  she  had  been,  by 
the  destruction  of  the  plant  in  which  they  are 
imprisoned.  "  This  deliverance  is,  however, 
as  yet  incomplete,"  pursued  the  damsel ;  "  and, 
to  perfect  it,  you  must  accompany  me  to  the 
water,  if  you  would  not  see  me  again  rooted 
in  the  forest."  Rogero  yields  to  her  prayer, 
accompanies  her  to  the  water,  and,  seduced 
by  the  enchantment,  leaps  hand  in  hand  with 
her  into  the  fountain. 

In   the  meantime,  Gradasso,  attempting  to 
clear   his   way,   cuts    down    an  ash,  which  is 
T  2 


276  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  III. 

converted  into  a  courser.  He  immediately 
mounts  it;  when  the  horse  transports  him 
through  the  air,  and  plunges  with  him  into  the 
enchanted  stream,  where  he  remains  a  prisoner 
with  the  rest.  * 

Brandimart,  counselled  by  Flordelis,  pur- 
sues the  adventure  with  better  success ;  and 
resisting  every  species  of  temptation  which  is 
presented  to  him,  at  length  arrives  at  the  banks 
of  the  fountain.  Here,  however,  he  would  have 
yielded  to  the  same  fascination  as  the  others, 
but  for  the  wise  precautions  of  Flordelis,  — 

Who,  for  a  safeguard,  round  his  brow  disposes 
A  mystic  garland  of  enchanted  roses,  f 

*  The  reader  will  see  in  this  adventure,  more  especially  in 
the  author's  fitting  the  temptations  to  the  character  of  the 
knights,  the  hint  which  Tasso  turned  to  so  much  better  account 
in  his  creation  of  the  forest  of  Armida. 

f  The  idea  of  roses  being  a  solvent  of  enchantments,  is  as 
old  as  Apuleius  and  Lucian  ;  and,  like  most  of  the  mysticisms 
to  be  found  in  those  authors,  is  probably  to  be  traced  to  a 
much  more  ancient  source. 


BOOK  III.  1NNAMORATO.  277 

She  had  also  furnished  him  with  the  same 
ornaments  for  the  others  whom  he  was  to 
deliver  from  the  pool.  Armed  with  these 
wreaths,  he  approaches  the  knights,  whom  he 
finds  in  the  bowers  of  crystal,  into  which  he 
plunged,  and  crowns  them  with  the  garlands. 
The  charm  forthwith  operates ;  their  perverse 
inclination  ceases,  and  they  gladly  return  with 
their  deliverer  to  the  surface. 

They  are  scarcely  safe  from  the  spell,  when 
Gradasso  bethinks  him  of  his  long  quest,  and 
a  fierce  battle  ensues  between  him  and  Orlando, 
for  the  possession  of  Durindana.  They  are, 
however,  induced  to  suspend  this  by  the  in- 
stances of  their  companions,  and  the  entreaties 
of  a  stranger  dwarf,  who  appears,  mounted  on 
a  palfrey,  and  entreats  the  assistance  of  some  of 
the  knights. 

These  accordingly  divide ;  Orlando,  attended 
by  Brandimart  and  Flordelis,  taking  his  way 
towards  Paris,  and  Rogero  and  Gradasso  ac- 
companying the  dwarf. 


278  THE    ORLANDO  BOOK  III. 

The  author  accompanies  Orlando  and  his 
friends,  who  arrive  before  Paris,  besieged  by 
the  forces  of  Agramant,  amid  whose  ranks 
were  to  be  found  assembled,  Rodomont,  Man- 
dricardo,  Ferrau,  the  newly  arrived  Gradasso, 
and  all  the  worthies  of  the  paynim  army. 
Flordelis  now  retires  into  a  wood  for  safety, 
while  the  two  champions  approach  the  camp 
of  the  besiegers.  At  this  crisis  Charlemagne 
makes  a  desperate  sally,  which  is  seconded  by 
Orlando  and  Brandimart,  and  the  fortune  of 
the  day  seems  balanced  between  the  contending 
troops. 

The  author  here  leaves  things  thus  suspended, 
and  takes  up  the  story  of  Bradamant,  who  lately 
separated  form  Rogero,  in  repulsing  the  am- 
buscade of  the  paynims.  She  journeying  alone, 
and  still  suffering  from  her  wound,  at  length 
reaches  a  hermitage,  the  tenant  of  which  ex- 
amines her  head,  cuts  off  her  hair  and  with  this 
bandages,  and  finally  heals  the  gash  which  she 
had  received. 


BOOK  III.  JNNAMORATO.  279 

Departing  from  his  hermitage,  and  still  pur- 
suing her  way  alone,  she  alights  from  her  horse, 
and  reposes  herself  in  a  wood,  where  she  is 
surprised  sleeping  by  Flordespina,  who,  de- 
ceived by  the  appearance  of  her  hair,  takes 
her  for  a  man.  This  princess,  who  was  engaged 
with  her  damsels  in  the  chase,  by  a  strata- 
gem detains  Bradamant  in  the  forest,  where 
they  pursue  their  sports  in  company. 

But,  exclaims  the  poet,  while  I  sing  these 
lays  of  ladies  and  of  loves,  I  see  France  arming 
against  Italy,  and  the  horizon  bright  with 
flames.  Hereafter,  if  it  shall  be  permitted  me 

I  will  piece  the  tale  which  I  leave  unfinished. 

***** 

So  ends  the  story  of  the  Orlando  Innamarato. 

• 

"  To-morrow  to  fresh  woods  and  pastures  new." 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


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